SOFILEZ - Synthetic Material Offers Touch-Feel of Genuine Leather

Wade · Feb 12, 2012

My Mondial has the optional leather dash, which needs replacement along with the upper door panel coverings. I’m looking for an alternative to leather, vinyl or alcantara; has anyone tried or considered SOFILEZ?

SOFILEZ is a synthetic leather material developed by Nissan that delivers a touch-feel (or hand) superior to the high-quality natural leather used in apparel and furniture applications, but that is also more durable than existing synthetic leathers. Nissan engineers based their design on the way the human fingertip interacts with surfaces along four different axes of material properties. The fingertip determines whether a surface is soft or hard, smooth or coarse, wet or dry, and warm or cold. By discovering the relationship between the fingertip and the sensations produced by feeling high-quality hide-based material, Nissan engineers set the appropriate physical properties for the SOFILEZ material. People sense the greatest comfort, and the feel is most similar to high-quality leather, when the interval of salient materials is closest to that of the fingerprint. Nissan uses the material in its high-end FUGA automobile (sold as the Infiniti M in North America) for high-touch areas such as the armrest and door panels, where the touch of the product is important but durability is critical. The material is available from Nissan in quantity and in any color.

Benefits Summary

o Better touch-feel, (or hand) than genuine leather.
o About 40% lighter than genuine leather.
o Higher durability against abrasion than semi-aniline leather.
o High enough durability against light and chemicals for automotive interior applications.
o Flame retardant.
o Any color.
Click to expand...

http://www.yet2.com/app/list/techpak?id=66262&sid=350&abc=0&page=tpprint
http://www.thehogring.com/2011/06/21/the-art-of-faking-real-leather/
http://www.observatorioplastico.com/detalle_oferta_demanda.php?of_id=3348&seccion=automocion&id_categoria=904
http://www.yet2.com/app/list/techpak?id=66262&sid=90&abc=0

JCR · Feb 14, 2012

Thanks for posting those links. It will be interesting to see what the aftermarket does with this.

f308jack · Feb 14, 2012

It's been tried for many years to come up with something that could replace top-quality genuine leather in all its' aspects.

All those I have seen failed: it appears rather difficult to synthesize mother nature successfully.

From the little write-up, it appears they thought this through. I'd love to see it!

Wade · Feb 14, 2012

In one of the links they state that the material is available from Nissan dealers; guess I'll have to check it out.

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SOFILEZ - Synthetic Material Offers Touch-Feel of Genuine Leather

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