Mercedes-Benz to give leather a good hiding
Future fake leather to be made from used car tyres but look, feel, wear and even smell like genuine hideMercedes-Benz has announced it is developing a next-generation alternative to leather that will be stronger, more durable and look, feel and smell like the real thing.
To achieve, Mercedes-Benz Research and Development says it will use ground-breaking biotechnology that sources the raw material from used tyres and blends it with plant-based proteins and bio-based polymers to create a hide-like material.
Engineers say the raw product is so like leather it can be processed by its existing tanneries with the resulting product almost imperceptible to current leather sourced from the meat industry.
Better still, the new finished item is at least twice as strong as leather and more durable but still wears like natural hide, making it far more tactile to touch, compared to current faux leather.
The material is also both breathable, waterproof and lighter and has a smaller carbon footprint compared to comparable materials.
The same biotech is also being applied to create a high-performance silk-like material that uses genetically modified bacteria to produce silk proteins that are then refined to create a silky yarn material.
Said to mimic the same soft, silky-to-the-touch feel, the new synthetic fabric is said to be 100 per cent biodegradable, lightweight and immensely strong.
Both the new synthetic leather and silk have already been tested to withstand temperature differences of more than 100 degrees Celsius, sustained direct sunlight, withstand other abrasive fabrics like denim and not melt in contact with suntan lotion, disinfectant or antiperspirants.
Despite exploring new materials, Mercedes-Benz said it will continue to invest in natural materials and will still offer a leather in the future, with the car-maker continuing to work with high-welfare suppliers.
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