What is Alcantara in a car? Photo and video
No one will object to the fact that the interior made of genuine leather looks really prestigious. But not everyone can afford it. In addition, genuine leather has disadvantages in addition to the high price:
- heats up in hot weather;
- stays cold longer in winter;
- the body slips during sharp turns and braking, this is especially felt if there is no lateral support.
Of course, leather upholstery of the seats and interior is used in Premium cars, where the leather is specially perforated, and the seats are equipped with heating and ventilation systems. But the very word "Premium" suggests that such machines are very, very expensive.
The industry produces a lot of upholstery materials: fabrics, eco-leather, which we previously wrote about on Vodi.su, velor and suede. In this article, I would like to talk about such material as Alcantara: what it is, what its advantages, disadvantages and how to care for it.
Alcantara - artificial suede
The scientific name is ultramicrofiber. This is a fabric of artificial origin, which is made from ordinary plastics and polymers. It would seem that fabric and plastic are incompatible concepts, but it is enough to touch Alcantara at least once to be convinced of the opposite.
It was developed in the 70s at a joint Italian-Japanese enterprise. Production secrets are not disclosed, but it is known that this is a rather complicated process, during which the plastic mass is processed at high temperatures and pressure. The resulting fibers are then treated with adhesives, passed through a press system, and the fabric itself is produced by improved spinning. As a result, the villi come out extremely thin. Because of this, the fabric is very soft and light.
In appearance, it is no different from natural suede.
Advantages:
- increased wear resistance;
- very durable;
- resistant to ultraviolet;
- does not shine, does not absorb moisture;
- easy to clean.
Another important plus is that it does not absorb odors. That is, if the driver smokes, then simply opening the doors for ventilation is enough to get rid of the smell of tobacco.
The list of characteristics of Alcantara can be continued for a long time. So, it is characterized by good breathability - the back and “fifth point” of the driver will not sweat even during long trips. Alcantara does not burn, is not amenable to chemical attack, does not cause allergic reactions. Even dog hair and plant fluff do not linger in the fibers of this material; cleaning the interior is a real pleasure.
Alcantara is a certified material that is produced only under license from the Italian company Alcantara SpA. Thus, it is almost impossible to stumble upon a fake somewhere, since the production process is kept in the strictest confidence. A wide color palette is on sale, the material is easy to cut and stitch, it is very easy to work with.
We also note that self-adhesive suede made in Korea or Turkey is also sold. It has nothing to do with the original Alcantara, and differs from it in a rougher texture.
Scope and types of material
The original material is presented in three versions:
- Pannel - used for finishing the front torpedo and interior elements;
- perforated alcantara;
- Cover - used for sewing seat covers, steering wheel, headrests.
All these materials are also used in the furniture and light industry for tailoring, upholstery, etc. Due to the elasticity, which is much higher than that of leather, even the smallest products, such as furniture handles, can be finished with it.
Wealthy people prefer Alcantara to trim the cabins of their private jets or yachts. You can also meet her in the interior of respectable hotels, restaurants, casinos. Many automakers use Alcantara for the starting trim of car interiors in the higher price category.
Care
In principle, artificial suede is very undemanding to care for. It is enough to wipe it from time to time with a damp cloth. This cleaning is recommended once a month. There is no need to use any specific detergents.
Here are some tips for getting rid of stains:
- traces of juices, tea, coffee, ketchup can be removed with soapy water, after dropping lemon juice on the stain;
- neutral soap solution can remove stains from beer, champagne, lipstick, chocolate, cocoa, milk, cream, ice cream, etc.;
- chewing gum should be moistened with ethyl alcohol and then wiped off with a damp cloth.
Disadvantages
Interestingly, this material does not have any special shortcomings. All people who have encountered Alcantara leave only positive reviews about it.
From our own experience, we note that Alcantara is a special material that contrasts very strongly with other types of upholstery. Therefore, it is desirable to do the constriction in a complex way, that is, to drag the entire interior, including the ceiling, doors, torpedo. The Alcantara also shows a lot of dust. Fortunately, you can get rid of it with a simple movement of your hand.
Well, the issue of price for many is the most important - the original material costs from 4400 rubles per linear meter. To finish the interior of a standard hatchback, you will need approximately 7-10 square meters, plus work is paid separately.
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