Fabrics, leather and soft materials · Leather

PVC faux leather (vinyl leather)

Vinyl leatherVinilpellePVC leatherLeatherette PVC

Frequently asked questions

Can PVC faux leather (vinyl leather) be laser cut?

No: PVC faux leather (vinyl leather) is not suitable for laser cutting. However, it releases toxic fumes — machining is not recommended.

Can PVC faux leather (vinyl leather) be CNC machined?

No: PVC faux leather (vinyl leather) is not suitable for CNC milling.

Is PVC faux leather (vinyl leather) food safe?

No, PVC faux leather (vinyl leather) is not considered food safe.

Physical properties

Moisture absorptionNegligible

Laser processing

CuttingNo
EngravingNo
FumesToxic

PVC under laser heating releases hydrochloric acid (HCl), dioxins and chlorinated furans. HCl is a corrosive gas that damages the respiratory tract even at low concentrations and chemically attacks zinc selenide laser optics, rendering them unusable in a short time. Confusion with PU faux leather is common and dangerous. Always flame-test a scrap sample: PVC burns with dense black smoke and a pungent, acrid odor; PU burns with less dense smoke and a different odor.

CO₂: PROHIBITED. Vinyl leather contains PVC, which under laser releases hydrochloric acid (HCl), a corrosive and toxic gas that damages the operator, the laser optics and the machine structure. Never process with laser.

Diode: PROHIBITED for the same reasons as CO2.

Fiber: Not applicable.

CNC / milling processing

MachinabilityNo

Not machinable with CNC using rotary cutters: the PVC coating and textile backing tear and wrap around the tool.

Plotter and thermoforming

Cutting plotterYes

A blade plotter (without a heat source) is the only safe method to cut PVC vinyl leather. No chemical risk with the mechanical blade alone. Use sharp blades to achieve clean cuts in the coating.

Post-processing

Sanding: Not sandable: sanding the PVC coating produces irritating plastic dust and degrades the surface appearance.

Gluing: Bondable with specific PVC adhesives or high-tack double-sided tapes. The smooth PVC surface may require an adhesion promoter to improve compatibility with other substrates.

Over time: PVC coating hardens and cracks over time due to loss of plasticizers (usually phthalates). The surface becomes dull and brittle, especially in cold environments.

Common defects

  • Almost impossible to distinguish visually from PU faux leather without specific tests
  • Cracking due to plasticiser loss after 3–5 years of use
  • Plasticiser migration (potential endocrine disruptors) on contact with hot surfaces

Safety

Respiratory tractRisk
FireMedium
Food safe (raw)No
Food safe (finished)No

Never laser process. If in doubt about composition, always perform a flame test on a scrap sample before any thermal processing. Dispose of as special plastic waste as it contains PVC and potential phthalates.

Availability and formats

EU availabilityWidely available
US availabilityWidely available
Typical price3–10 €/m²

Commercial formats: fabric by the metre, pre-cut panels, upholstery rolls

Related materials

Chrome-Tanned Leather Vegetable-Tanned Leather

Sources

  • ECHA REACH — Dichloromethane and PVC thermal degradation products
  • Manuali di sicurezza laser per materiali a base PVC
  • Schede di sicurezza (SDS) fornitori vinilpelle industriale

Sheet curated by juppiter78, Italian maker. Data last verified: .

Information on compatibility, processing parameters and safety is purely indicative. MakerSpecs accepts no liability for damage to persons or property arising from the use of this data. Always check the safety rules and the manufacturer's official manuals before carrying out any processing.