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TECHNICAL GUIDE

Abrasion-Resistant Waterborne Polyurethane for Synthetic Leather

“Abrasion resistant” is useful only when the test method, load / cycles and acceptance criterion are defined. Use this guide to organize a synthetic-leather coating brief before comparing waterborne PU grades.

TEST DEFINITION

Define the abrasion test before comparing waterborne PU grades

A useful abrasion-resistance brief should include the test method, load or cycle count, abrasive medium, coat position, substrate and acceptance criterion. If scratch resistance is also required, list it separately because abrasion and scratch are not the same failure mode.

Test methodCustomer, brand or recognized laboratory method.
Load / cyclesDefine the actual test severity rather than using only the word “durable.”
Coating positionBasecoat, midcoat, topcoat or surface-treatment layer.
Surface targetGloss / matte, hand feel, transparency and scratch requirement.
CURRENT FAST CANDIDATES

Use documented performance directions for the first screen

ModelDocumented directionInitial screening use
RU-6720Current product data includes abrasion and scratch resistance together with hydrolysis, aging and yellowing resistance directions.Topcoat-oriented discussions where soft hand feel and multiple durability requirements are considered together.
RU-6880Current product data includes abrasion and scratch resistance for a polycarbonate-based matte aliphatic PUD, together with cold and hydrolysis resistance directions.Matte synthetic-leather projects where surface durability and process stability are part of the same brief.
VALIDATION

A resin-level direction does not replace finished-material testing

Formulation effect

Crosslinker, pigments, matting systems, additives and blend ratios can change final abrasion and scratch performance.

Process effect

Film build, drying / curing, substrate preparation and test conditioning also affect the finished coating result.

FAQ

Common abrasion-resistance questions

Is abrasion resistance the same as scratch resistance?

No. They can be related in a coating system, but they use different test methods and should be specified separately.

Which current FAST models document abrasion resistance?

RU-6720 and RU-6880 both include abrasion resistance among their documented performance directions; each has a different product position and surface target.

Can website data guarantee a finished synthetic-leather test result?

No. Final performance must be validated in the customer’s full formulation, process and test method.

NEXT STEP

Send the abrasion test condition with the application brief

Include substrate, coat position, test method, load / cycles, surface target and any related scratch or hydrolysis requirements.

CURRENT CATALOG ROUTES

Where abrasion-resistance screening can start

Abrasion performance must still be verified in the finished system, but current product data can be used to identify the first topcoat and matte families worth testing.

TOPCOAT

RU-6720

Documented abrasion and scratch-resistance directions together with hydrolysis, cold, yellowing resistance and soft hand.

View RU-6720 →
TOPCOAT FAMILY

RU-6730–6750

Current catalog data includes abrasion directions across clear/high-gloss or medium-soft topcoat options with different flex, rub and leveling characteristics.

Compare topcoats →
MATTE FAMILY

RU-6830 / 6860 / 6870 / 6880

Current catalog data includes abrasion/scratch directions in matte grades, with selected polycarbonate-based options also listing hydrolysis resistance.

Compare matte grades →