Waterborne Polyurethane For Leather Finishing

Water based Polyurethanes for Leather Finishes

Water based Polyurethanes make excellent leather coatings. Suitable grades are inherently flexible (no plasticizers that volatize or migrate over time), have superior tensile properties, and have excellent abrasion resistance. Water based polyurethanes can be used by themselves or in conjunction with acrylic emulsions to reach just the right cost/performance balance for your specific application. All of our leather topcoat resins can be crosslinked to improve their overall properties for very high performance applications.

These products are uncompounded water based polyurethanes which may be suitable for some applications as supplied. However, they may require the addition of additives such as wetting agents, defoamers, thickeners, and or other additives to optimize them for your specific application. We would be happy to work with you to help customize these water based polyurethanes for your requirements.

The following water based polyurethanes are recommended for leather finishing applications:

Leather Topcoat Applications

Bondthane™ UD-263

Excellent flexibility and abrasion resistance for footwear, upholstery and more. Great for topcoat applications

This relatively hard, durable, yet flexible water based polyurethane can be used by itself in many leather topcoat applications. It is an excellent compromise between flexibility and abrasion resistance making it highly suitable for many footwear and upholstery topcoat applications. It produces a high gloss film with excellent clarity and depth of image.

Bondthane™ UD-211

Medium hard, for glossy finish and a balance between toughness and flexibility

This medium hard water based polyurethane is also an excellent all around choice for many leather topcoat applications. UD-211 produces a glossy film that has an excellent balance of toughness and flexibility. It is slightly softer than the UD-263 but has a higher flexibility and elongation.

Bondthane™ UD-270

Not as hard as UD-211 but more flexible. Used for soft leather topcoat applications that require extra flexibility

This flexible water based polyurethane is not as hard as the UD-211 but is even more flexible. It may be used in certain soft leather topcoat applications that require extra flexibility at the cost of giving up a little bit of hardness and abrasion resistance or as part of a leather basecoat system.

Bondthane™ UD-238

Relatively soft, exceptionally bright and flexible. Excellent for leather topcoat applications. High gloss, with soft feel

This relatively soft water based polyurethane produces an exceptionally bright film with excellent flexibility. It is an excellent choice for soft leather topcoat applications. UD-238 produces a high gloss film that has good hand and a soft feel.

Leather Basecoat Applications

Bondthane™ UD-270

Sacrifices hardness and abrasion resistance for flexibility

This flexible water based polyurethane is not as hard as the UD-211 but is even more flexible. It may be used in certain soft topcoat applications that require extra flexibility at the cost of giving up a little bit of hardness and abrasion resistance or as part of a basecoat system.

Bondthane™ UD-301

Much softer and more flexible, a wonderful base resin

This soft flexible water based polyurethane is much softer than the UD-270 but is even more flexible with a less firm hand. It makes a very good base resin for flexible leather basecoats.

Bondthane™ UD-312

Soft, inexpensive, and co-solvent free for a clear and soft, yet firm and flexible film.

This soft, economical, co-solvent free water based polyurethane produces a clear soft yet firm flexible film and can be used as a binder in leather basecoat applications. The UD-312 is a moderately harder version of the UD-302 below and more similar in hardness to the UD-270.

Bondthane™ UD-302

Produces a clear, soft, and flexible film

This soft, economical, co-solvent free water based polyurethane produces a clear soft flexible film and can be used as a binder in leather basecoat applications. The UD-302 is a moderately softer version of the UD-312 above and more similar in hardness to the UD-301.

Bondthane™ UD-303

Our softest and most flexible water based resin for leather basecoats

This very soft, economical, co-solvent free water based polyurethane produces a clear very soft flexible film with excellent elongation and elasticity. UD-303 can be used by itself or to increase flexibility and elongation in leather basecoat applications. The UD-303 is our softest most flexible water based polyurethane resin for leather basecoats.

Specialty Applications or Requirements

Bondthane™ UD-215, UD-275, and UD-315 NMP-free Water based Polyurethanes

Very hard and flexible with an alternative solvent

Our UD-215, UD-275, and UD-315 are potential NMP-free substitutes for the UD-211, UD-270, and UD-301 respectively. These products are not solvent free but rather contain an alternative solvent in place of the NMP. See our NMP-free Polyurethanes page for more details.

Bondthane™ UD-375 Water based Polyurethane for soft touch Leather Topcoats

Low gloss, and extremely flexible with a unique, rubbery feel for specialty topcoat applications.

This high solids, co-solvent free water based polyurethane produces a low gloss and extremely flexible film with a unique soft rubbery feel. It can be used in specialty topcoat applications where a unique "soft feel" is desirable.

View our Product Properties Table for specific product properties

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View our Product Properties Table for Specific Product Specifications

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