EP0238476B1 - Nubuk or velvety leather support, and process for its preparation - Google Patents

Abstract

A substrate having an appearance similar to that of nubuk-leather or pile-leather, respectively, or of a textile pile consists of a textile carrier body being at least partially impregnated with a, preferably cross-linked, polymeric synthetic plastics material consisting of a foam which has open cells formed by introducing air and optionally has closed cells formed of hollow microspheres. The textile carrier body consists of a fleece or of a knitting, preferably of a crimped fleece of synthetic fibres, which is needled together with a knitting or with a fleece, strengthened by thermal embossing, in such a manner that the fibres extend through the knitting. The knitting may consist of a roughened stockinet, i.e. a stockinet having opened loops. The carrier body is ground at least at its one impregnated surface and is thus rough and can be provided with a coating.

Description

The invention relates to a nubuck or suede-like substrate, with a textile carrier body with a rough surface on at least one side, which is at least partially impregnated with a polymeric plastic material consisting of a foam which has open cells formed by the introduction of air. The invention further relates to a method for producing such a substrate.

Non-impregnated nonwovens have excellent puncture and tear resistance properties. However, their main disadvantage is that their surface is unstable and changes very much, especially when stretched. Another disadvantage of these nonwovens lies in the fact that they have a considerably changing thickness. If such nonwovens are used as a carrier material for a plastic coating, it is necessary to compensate for the fluctuations in thickness and to eliminate the unrest on the surface of the nonwoven by providing thick, heavy and therefore expensive plastic coatings. Although it has already been proposed to use foamed PVC or foamed PUR as the coating material, which reduces the weight, such foamed coatings have poor abrasion properties and tend to split.

It is also known to produce the coating from an aqueous plastic dispersion which contains hollow microspheres or compact particles from which hollow microspheres are formed by the application of heat when the plastic dispersion solidifies. These hollow microspheres form closed cells, so that this coating contains a closed-cell foam structure. Even with such a coating, the disadvantages mentioned can only be partially eliminated, since this coating must also have an appropriate thickness. The closed-cell foam structure is also not permeable to water vapor.

It is also known to form a fleece by introducing a plastic material into a substrate. For example, it has already been suggested that a polymer solution formed from water-miscible solvents and polyurethane be introduced into a nonwoven and allowed to coagulate, the liquid polymer solution coagulating and solidifying in the process. The solvent is then washed out with water, which forms open-cell pores. Such an approach is cumbersome. Also the solvents used are toxic and environmentally harmful. Another disadvantage is that only thermoplastic materials can be used in this procedure, but they cause problems during grinding because they tend to smear.

According to another known proposal, a carrier material formed from a nonwoven made of textile fibers is impregnated with a polymer plastic material which is arranged in the carrier material in different distributions, the substrate thus formed being compressed after the plastic material has solidified. The substrate becomes hard and stiff, so it has no leather-like properties and therefore cannot be used as a substitute for leather. In addition, the tear strength and puncture resistance of the substrate, based on its strength and weight, is very poor.

A method for the production of porous textile fabrics with leather-like grain has also been proposed, according to which a base fabric made of shrinkable fibers is impregnated on one or both sides with a flowable, heat-reactive polymer, which has been made foam-like, for example, by incorporating air, whereupon the impregnated fabric is dried by the application of heat and is allowed to shrink by treatment with water or steam (DE-A-21 64 852). This creates an absorbent fabric with a leather-like grain that can be used as a dishwashing cloth, scrubbing cloth, wiping cloth or the like. Can be used. The prerequisite for this is the use of a fabric made of natural fibers that shrink during washing, which results in a leather-like grain, but no velor effect. If this known flat structure is stretched or stretched, an uneven, uneven visible surface also arises due to the use of the fabric. The use of the fabric also makes it difficult to produce exact cut edges, since the fabric tends to fray.

It is also known to impregnate a carrier body formed from a woven, knitted or non-woven fabric with a plastic material having elastomeric or elastomer-like properties, in which plastic material hollow microspheres are embedded, the surfaces of the substrate thus produced or the like being ground. are processed and therefore have partially opened hollow microspheres (DE-C2-31 17 721). This creates a velor effect on the surface and the substrate has a low density and a flat surface due to the embedded hollow microspheres. However, the substrate thus formed is not or hardly permeable to water vapor and also relatively stiff. The tear resistance, puncture resistance and moisture absorption are also unsatisfactory and the application of a coating is not possible.

From US-A 4045598 a method for producing a dressing on a woven or knitted textile material has become known, according to which a plastic material consisting of a foam, for example a latex foam, is applied to the textile material and sucked into the textile material by applying a vacuum and is then dried. The plastic material does not enter the textile material with a constant thickness, the impregnation thus becomes uneven, which has an adverse effect on the properties of the finished textile material. A major disadvantage of this known method, however, is that when a vacuum is applied, the air is sucked out of the foam-like plastic material, so that it collapses and the advantages which result from the use of such a foam-like plastic material are nullified.

In general, it is difficult to correctly determine the amount of plastic to be introduced into a fleece, which is then sanded to obtain a nubuck or velor effect, which essentially depends on the solids content of a solution or dispersion. A high solids content of the solution or dispersion leads to a hard, stiff, less porous and therefore hardly absorbent product with poor tear propagation resistance and puncture resistance, whereas a low solids content causes the plastic to accumulate mainly at the crossing points of the fibers, which has the consequence that that the tear propagation resistance and puncture resistance are also poor and the material becomes out of round when it is bent and is difficult to grind. The low abrasion resistance of the material and the high energy expenditure for evaporating the water or the solvent are also disadvantageous.

In the present case, the term “impregnation” is understood not only to mean immersing the textile material in a bath, but also any other way of applying a liquid to the textile material.

On the basis of the prior art described last, the object of the invention is to create a nubuck or suede-like substrate and a method for its production, which substrate is a flat, calm, fine-fiber Surface and has a low basis weight, does not stretch when stretching, i.e. does not become restless, and has good air and water vapor permeability and good tear resistance and puncture resistance. Furthermore, the substrate according to the invention should have a good moisture absorption capacity and enable rapid moisture exchange, ie when moisture occurs, for example high air humidity, sweat or the like. absorb this moisture quickly, similar to natural leather, but also release it back into the dry environment in the desired way. Finally, a substrate is to be created which has good abrasion properties and approximately the same elongation properties in the longitudinal and transverse directions and a constant bending stiffness in a wide temperature range. In addition, the substrate according to the invention should be able to be deformed well and permanently, which is important when using the substrate both in shoe manufacture and as a covering material for cushions and for the interior lining of vehicles.

This object is achieved in the substrate mentioned at the outset with the features of the characterizing part of patent claim 1, while in the method used to produce it, the characterizing features of claim 28 represent the solution to the problem.

The foam, with which the carrier body consisting of a nonwoven is partially impregnated and which has open cells, fills the cavities between the fibers almost completely and evenly. This avoids an accumulation of plastic material at the crossing points of the fibers of the nonwoven, so that the substrate according to the invention has a low bending strength and has excellent tear propagation resistance properties and puncture tear resistance properties. This advantage is also achieved through the use of a fleece which, in contrast to a woven or knitted fabric, consists of non-oriented fibers.

The good tensile strength properties are ensured above all by the fact that not the entire carrier body, but rather only a region between 20 and 60% of its total thickness, is impregnated with the polymer plastic foam, since complete impregnation significantly reduces the tensile strength properties. The good permeability to air and water vapor results from the fact that the substrate according to the invention has a large number of open cells and therefore an at least predominantly open-cell fine-pored structure. The cell structure makes it possible furthermore, that a suede-like effect arises after the impregnated surface is sanded, since the fibers partially protrude from this surface. The outstanding fibers also create very favorable conditions for inseparable connection with an additional thin coating, because the liquid coating material can anchor itself in the fine, rough surface without, however, sinking into it. Since the carrier body consists of a fleece and is therefore stretchable without the surface of the substrate changing in a disruptive manner, the substrate according to the invention is particularly suitable as a leather substitute, but particularly well as a material for the interior of vehicles, in particular motor vehicles, because it can be easily deformed due to its elasticity.

A particularly high permeability to air and water vapor results when the foamed polymeric plastic material has open cells formed solely by introducing air. This is useful, for example, if the substrate or the like in the manufacture of shoes, protectors or the like, but also for the interior of vehicles, rooms or the like. and is used as a covering material for upholstery.

For other areas of application, it can be advantageous if, according to the invention, the polymeric plastic material has, in addition to the open cells formed by introducing air, hollow cells formed by hollow microspheres. It is advantageous here if at least some of the hollow microspheres located on the impregnated surface of the carrier body are open, since this improves the velor effect.

Good results are achieved if the textile carrier body is at least partially made of plastic fibers, for example polyester fibers or Polyamide fibers. This is particularly advantageous if the substrate according to the invention is heated and deformed by means of high frequency.

A particularly attractive surface is also obtained when the fibers are thinner than 3.5 dtex, preferably thinner than 2 dtex.

According to the invention, the carrier body can consist of several interconnected webs. For example, the textile carrier body can be formed from a natural fiber fleece and a synthetic fiber fleece, preferably of approximately the same weight, needled together with the natural fiber fleece. Due to their wicking properties, the natural fibers ensure good water absorption, the synthetic fibers ensure high resistance to tearing and tearing.

However, the impregnated area of the carrier body can also consist of a nonwoven fabric, which is needled together with a knitted fabric or a thin nonwoven fabric that has been consolidated by embossing, the fibers of the former nonwoven partially projecting through the knitted fabric or the thin, consolidated nonwoven fabric.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the carrier body consists of two nonwovens, between which a knitted fabric or a thin nonwoven fabric, which is consolidated by embossing, is arranged, the knitted fabric or the thin, consolidated nonwoven fabric being connected to the outer nonwovens by needling. The knitted fabric expediently consists of a roughened jersey, that is to say of a jersey in which the loops are cut open on the surface.

In another embodiment of the invention, the textile carrier body consists in its impregnated area of a fleece which is needled together with a plastic film made of polypropylene, polyethylene or soft PVC, the fibers of the fleece projecting through the plastic film. In any case, there are good properties in terms of water vapor permeability and moisture absorption as well as in terms of strength.

According to a further feature of the invention, the textile carrier body, preferably with a proportion between 5 and 35%, can contain high-strength fibers, in particular based on polyamide. Such high-strength fibers are sold in the German Federal Republic under the trademarks KEVLAR and NOMEX. This makes the tensile strength of the substrate essential elevated. In the case of such a substrate, a thin, light fleece with a basis weight of approximately 150 g / m 2 can be used as the carrier body, so that this substrate is particularly suitable, for example, for shoe upper material. So far, it has been necessary to provide such a thin, open-structure fleece with a thick and thus heavy coating. The arrangement of the foam in the fleece and the grinding of the surface create a tearable suede-like or textile velor-like substrate even when using thin fleece made of high-strength fibers, which retains its smooth surface even when stretched and which is also ideal for applying thin coatings.

A beautiful, even velor effect is obtained when the majority of the cells in the polymer plastic material are smaller than 125 µ.

The polymeric plastic material is preferably, at least partially, crosslinked, with a crosslinking agent being added which does not start heating crosslinking.

A polymer dispersion based on butadiene, polyurethane, polyacrylate, polystyrene, polyisobutylene and / or polychloroprene, or containing these polymers, is particularly suitable as the polymer plastic material. This makes it easy to produce the open-celled whipped foam.

In order to further improve the moisture absorption and moisture permeability of the substrate, the polymeric plastic material according to the invention can contain powdery hygroscopic additives, for example leather powder or cellulose powder, which absorb and transmit the moisture. For low bending stiffness and good tear propagation resistance and puncture resistance, it is essential if there is no plastic enrichment at the crossing points of the fibers in order to avoid a strong bond between the carrier body and the plastic material. This is the case when using the foam material according to the invention. A reduction in this bond and thereby an improved extensibility of the substrate in all directions can, however, still be achieved in that, according to the invention, the textile carrier body is provided with a non-stick finish made of a layer at least partially enveloping the fibers forming the carrier body. This layer can consist, for example, of silicone, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, wax, paraffin, polyolefin or similar materials, or of mixtures thereof, that is to say of substances which are above all water-repellent and therefore prevent the dispersion from adhering to the fibers.

However, the layer can also consist of a substance that is soluble in a liquid, in particular water or alcohol, for example gelatin, starch, soaps, fatty alcohols, polyvinyl alcohol, water glass, or mixtures thereof. This layer initially surrounds the fibers and prevents the plastic material from adhering to them, in particular also at the crossing points, but can be at least partially removed again during or after the plastic material has solidified by the liquid (water, alcohol or the like), so that then the fibers in the plastic foam are, as it were, freely movable, thereby not only improving the softness and flexibility of the substrate produced in this way, but also forming capillary cavities in this substrate, which increase the moisture permeability in the desired manner. However, there is also the possibility that the aqueous plastic dispersion itself will absorb this layer.

The substrate according to the invention expediently has a density of less than 0.45 g / cm 3.

It is advantageous if the substrate is provided with a print and a preferably transparent finish on at least one surface, as a result of which a desired, for example leather or textile, appearance is achieved.

As already mentioned, the substrate according to the invention can be used without a coating, for example as an absorbent, breathable shoe lining material or insole material or as velor material for vehicles. However, it is advantageous if it is at least on his a surface is provided with a thin coating, preferably made of polyurethane or PVC, the fibers protruding from the surface being embedded in the coating. The fine roughness of this ground surface is an ideal prerequisite even for very thin coatings because the liquid coating material can anchor itself in the rough surface and the fiber ends protruding from this rough surface anchor in the coating material. In this case, the coating can have a thickness of less than 0.35 mm.

The coating can be applied to the impregnated and ground surface of the carrier body. However, it is also possible according to the invention to provide the non-impregnated surface of the carrier body with a coating. The velor effect on the soaked and polished surface is then retained, whereas the other surface can be given a leather-like appearance, for example by embossing the coating.

When a nubuck or suede-like substrate is produced, a foam being formed from an aqueous plastic dispersion by stirring or blowing in air, this foam is introduced into a textile carrier body in such a way that it penetrates this textile carrier body at least in the area of its surface, and then the textile carrier body is dried by dehydration, the procedure according to the invention is such that a carrier body consisting of a nonwoven is used so that the foam is introduced into the textile carrier body by the action of excess pressure such that, starting from a surface of the textile carrier body, only an area between 20% and 60% of the total thickness of the textile carrier body is soaked, and that the surface mentioned is then ground so that the fibers of the nonwoven partially protrude from the soaked surface. The blow foam is introduced by overpressure, for example by applying compressed air or compressed gas and / or by mechanically pressing the blow foam into the carrier body. The introduction of the whipped foam by the action of excess pressure ensures that the foam structure is not destroyed during this introduction into the carrier body, but is maintained to the desired extent in the area of the carrier body to be impregnated. In the subsequent drying by the application of heat, preferably one Temperature above 100 ° C, due to the expansion of the air in the blow foam, a large number of cell walls in the drying blow foam burst, which results in the desired air and water vapor permeability to a large extent. The use of whipped foam also has the advantage that the volume of the whipped foam approximately doubles compared to the volume of the undefeated dispersion, without the water: solid ratio changing, so that a smaller amount of water for impregnating the desired area of the textile carrier body is necessary, so a smaller amount of water must be removed again when drying. This saves on material and energy.

If the impregnation should also partially contain closed cells, the hollow aqueous plastic dispersion made into foam by introducing air can be admixed with hollow microspheres made of a thermoplastic material, preferably made of polyvinylidene chloride, or compact particles containing a blowing agent made of a thermoplastic material, preferably made of polyvinylidene chloride, from which compact particles hollow microspheres are formed in situ by the application of heat. If the hollow microspheres are formed from the compact particles during the drying of the impregnated carrier body, the whipped foam is also expanded, which likewise causes the cell walls to burst. The hollow microspheres that form during drying also lead to a spontaneous increase in the viscosity of the still liquid whipped foam and thus not only prevent the drying whipped foam from contracting at the points of intersection of the fibers and a reduction in volume of the whipped foam due to the loss of liquid during drying, but rather the whipped foam experiences through it forming hollow microspheres an increase in volume.

It is advantageous if the aqueous plastic dispersion uses heat-sensitive measures, for example by means of a substance such as polyvinyl methyl ether, or is adjusted to a pH value which deviates from the pH of the textile carrier body or the fibers forming this textile carrier body, that is to say acidic or alkaline is opposite to the textile carrier body. In any case, this causes the plastic dispersion to coagulate, thereby accelerating the solidification thereof and causing additional foam formation.

In order to obtain a soft substrate with low bending strength and good deformability, a strong bond should, as already mentioned between the plastic foam and the textile carrier material, in particular at the crossing points of the fibers, can be prevented. For this purpose, it is advantageous if the textile carrier body or the fibers forming this textile carrier body are coated with a coating of water-deviating material, for example silicone, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, wax, paraffin, polyolefin or similar materials or mixtures, before introducing the aqueous plastic dispersion therein from this, is or will be provided. This water-repellent material repels the aqueous plastic dispersion so that there is no bond between the plastic foam and the textile carrier material.

Another particularly advantageous way of preventing such a bond is to coat the textile carrier body or the fibers forming this textile carrier body with a coating of a liquid, e.g. Water or alcohol to provide detachable substance and after solidification of the whipped foam to remove this substance at least partially by the action of the liquid mentioned. If, for example, the textile carrier body is impregnated with a solution, emulsion or dispersion of gelatin, starch, soaps, fatty alcohols, polyvinyl alcohol, water glass or similar materials, or mixtures thereof, the solid in this solution, emulsion or dispersion is deposited on the fibers , preferably at the crossing points of the fibers, and at least partially covers the fibers with a film. If this film is at least partially washed out again after the solidification of the whipped foam by the action of water or alcohol, gaps are hereby created between the fibers and the solidified whipped foam, so the fibers can move freely in the solidified whipped foam in the desired manner. In addition, the cavities thus created improve the water vapor and air permeability of the substrate.

It also serves to reduce the bending strength of the substrate if the impregnated support body is subjected to a chemical treatment, for example by means of hot water, or, preferably with simultaneous application of heat, to a mechanical treatment, for example by stretching, stretching and / or tumbling, after it has dried is, which also loosens the bond between the fibers of the textile carrier body and the solidified plastic foam, in particular at the intersection of the fibers.

If hollow microspheres are formed in situ during the drying of the plastic foam, as already mentioned, during the drying process there is an increase in volume and thus an increase in the thickness of the impregnated textile carrier body. This increase in thickness is now expediently removed by the grinding treatment, which not only ensures the desired thickness of the substrate in each coat, regardless of the amount of foamed foam applied, but also a completely constant thickness of the substrate, even if the substrate material is in front of the Watering was of different thickness.

The impregnated support body can be embossed at least on one surface under the action of pressure and heat. Furthermore, the impregnated support body can be printed, preferably with a printing ink which contains methyl polymethacrylate or polyurethane as a binder. If the substrate according to the invention is to be connected to PVC film applications, as is advantageous, for example, when using the substrate for the interior of vehicles, then in such a case the printing ink also acts as an HF welding agent for welding on these PVC film applications.

Particularly suitable as a textile carrier material are binder-free carded or random fiber nonwovens made of synthetic fibers, which nonwovens can also be reinforced by a knitted fabric or a thin nonwoven reinforced by thermal embossing. Strongly roughened knitted fabrics with a basis weight of more than 160 g / m² are also suitable.

Example 1:

To produce a substrate according to the invention, a foamed whipped or foamed aqueous plastic dispersion with a liter weight between 300 and 700 g, preferably 500 g, is coated into a fine-fiber needle or random fiber fleece with a basis weight of more than 180 g / m 2 by coating by means of overpressure brought in. The dispersion in the fleece is then solidified or dried by water evaporation. This consolidation or drying takes place, for example, in that the impregnated surface of the nonwoven is brought into direct contact with a hot support, for example a hot roller or plate, so that the heat is emitted directly to the wet dispersion layer. After drying, the impregnated surface of the fleece is sanded with emery paper, the open surface of the fleece present before the impregnation of the fleece and the strong fluctuations in thickness of the fleece being eliminated. The surface of the fleece now has a nubuck or suede-like appearance with fine, sanded fibers and can be provided with a thin coating.

Example 2:

100 parts of a 50% polymer dispersion based on butadiene, which contains a crosslinking agent which becomes effective when heat is added, are admixed with 2 parts of thickener, 5 parts of pigment and 5 parts of a thermoplastic compact particle containing a blowing agent. The mixture is then mixed and air is stirred in until the volume has approximately doubled and a whipped foam has formed. This blow foam is introduced into a needle felt with a basis weight of approx. 300 g and a thickness of approx. 2 mm, consisting of 50 parts of cotton fibers and 50 parts of polyester fibers (1.7 dtex) by means of overpressure, in such a way that the blow foam approximately 0.6 mm penetrates the fleece.

The fleece thus impregnated is then at a temperature of approx. 135 ° C dried. The thermoplastic hollow microspheres are formed from the compact particles in the whipped foam. Drying is complete after approx. 3 minutes. The fleece in which the hollow microspheres have formed is now approximately 2.2 mm thick.

The fleece is then sanded on the treated side with a 220 grit emery paper, until the fleece has returned to its original thickness of 2 mm. The open surface of the fleece present before the impregnation of the fleece with the whipped foam and the large fluctuations in thickness of the fleece are eliminated after grinding. The surface of the fleece shows a nubuck or suede-like surface with fine, sanded fibers. This surface is so flat that a thin PUR coating with a thickness of 0.18 mm applied in a known manner, even when stretching, shows no fleece structure.

• Fig.1 ein erfindungsgemäßes Substrat ohne Beschichtung;
• Fig.2 ein erfindungsgemäßes Substrat mit Beschichtung;
• Fig.3 das Detail III in Fig.2 in größerem Maßstab;
• Fig.4 eine weitere Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Substrates mit Beschichtung;
• Fig.5 eine weitere Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Substrates mit Beschichtung.

Exemplary embodiments of the substrate according to the invention are shown in the drawing. Show it:

• 1 shows a substrate according to the invention without a coating;
• 2 shows a substrate according to the invention with a coating;
• 3 shows the detail III in Figure 2 on a larger scale;
• 4 shows a further embodiment of the substrate according to the invention with a coating;
• 5 shows a further embodiment of the substrate according to the invention with a coating.

The substrate according to the invention shown in FIG. 1 has a carrier body 1, which is formed from a fleece and consists of fibers 2. An impregnation consisting of a foam 3 is provided in the area 6 of the substrate adjacent to the surface 5. The impregnation can only have open cells, which are formed by stirring in air, but hollow cells forming closed cells can also be embedded in the open-cell foam, as shown at 4. The impregnated surface 5 is ground and the fibers 2 protrude from this surface 5 or protrude from this surface, so that this surface has a nubuck or suede-like appearance.

The embodiment according to FIGS. 2 and 3 differs from the embodiment according to FIG. 1 in that a thin coating 7 with a grain leather-like appearance is inseparably connected to the surface 5, with the fine fibers projecting from the surface 5 into it Coating protrude and are therefore anchored in this coating 7, or also protrude from this coating or protrude from this coating. However, the coating 7 can also be applied to the non-impregnated surface of the carrier body 1, the fibers 2 of the fleece 1 also being anchored in the coating. In this case, this surface provided with the coating preferably has a grain leather-like appearance, whereas the other, impregnated and polished surface 5 is velor-like.

The embodiment according to FIG. 4 differs from the embodiment according to FIG. 3 in that with the fleece 1 a knitted fabric or a thin fleece 8 consolidated by thermal embossing with a thickness of less than 0.8 mm and a weight per unit area of less than 135 g / mm² is needled together in such a way that the fibers 2 of the nonwoven 1 penetrate the knitted fabric or consolidated nonwoven 8 and thus protrude from the top of this knitted fabric or consolidated nonwoven 8. In this embodiment too, the coating 7 can be arranged both on the impregnated surface 5 of the fleece 1 and on the knitted fabric or solidified fleece 8, the protruding fibers 2 also being anchored in the coating in the latter case.

The embodiment according to FIG. 5 differs from the embodiment according to FIG. 4 in that the carrier body consists of two nonwovens 1 ', 1 ", between which a knitted fabric or a thin, embossed nonwoven 8 is arranged, which with the two Fleece 1 ', 1 "is needled together.

The fleece 1 or 1 'or 1 "is preferably a carded fleece made of synthetic fibers. The knitted fabric 8 can consist, for example, of a roughened tricot, that is to say a tricot whose loops are open.

Claims (38)

1. A nubuck-leather-like or suede-like substrate with a textile support (1) having a rough surface (5) on at least one side and being partly impregnated with a polymeric plastics material consisting of a foam (3) which has open cells formed by incorporation of air, characterised in that, starting from the surface (5) of the textile support (1), only one region between 20% and 60% of the total thickness of the textile support (1) is impregnated, and in that the textile support (1) consists of a fleece and is abraded on its impregnated surface (5) in such a way that the fibres (2) in part project from this surface (5).
2. A substrate according to Claim 1, characterised in that the foam (3) has, in addition to the open cells formed by incorporation of air, closed cells formed by hollow microspheres (4).
3. A substrate according to Claim 2, characterised in that at least some of the hollow microspheres (4) on the impregnated surface (5) of the support (1) are opened.
4. A substrate according to Claim 1, characterised in that the textile support at least partly consists of plastics fibres (2), for example polyester fibres or polyamide fibres.
5. A substrate according to Claim 4, characterised in that the fibres (2) are thinner than 3.5 dtex, preferably thinner than 2 dtex.
6. A substrate according to Claim 1, characterised in that the support (1) consists of a number of interconnected webs.
7. A substrate according to Claim 6, characterised in that the textile support (1), in its impregnated region, consists of a natural fibre fleece which is needled together with a synthetic fibre fleece preferably of approximately equal weight.
8. A substrate according to Claim 6, characterised in that the textile support (1), in its impregnated region, consists of a fleece which is needled together with a warp-knitted fabric (8) or with a thin fleece compacted by stamping, the fibres (2) of the first-mentioned fleece in part projecting through the knitted fabric or the thin compacted fleece.
9. A substrate according to Claim 6, characterised in that the textile support (1) consists of two fleeces, between which a warp-knitted fabric (8) or a thin fleece compacted by stamping is arranged, the knitted fabric (8) or the thin compacted fleece being connected with the outer fleeces by needling.
10. A substrate according to Claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the knitted fabric (8) is a roughened tricot.
11. A substrate according to Claim 6, characterised in that the textile support (1), in its impregnated region, consists of a fleece which is needled together with a polypropylene, polyethylene or soft PVC plastics sheet, the fibres (2) of the fleece projecting through the plastics sheet.
12. A substrate according to any one of Claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the fleece is a carded fleece.
13. A substrate according to Claim 1, characterised in that the textile support (1) contains high-strength fibres, particularly polyamide-based, preferably in a proportion of between 5 and 35%.
14. A substrate according to Claim 1, characterised in that the majority of the cells of the polymeric plastics material are smaller than 125 µm.
15. A substrate according to Claim 1, characterised in that the polymeric plastics material, at least in part, is cross-linked.
16. A substrate according to Claim 1, characterised in that the polymeric plastics material (3) is formed from a polymeric dispersion based on butadiene, polyurethane, polyacrylic, polystyrene, polyisobutylene and/or polychloroprene, or contains these polymers.
17. A substrate according to Claim 1, characterised in that the polymeric plastics material (3) contains powdered hygroscopic admixtures, for example leather powder or cellulose powder.
18. A substrate according to Claim 1, characterised in that the textile support (1) is provided with an anti-adhesive finish consisting of a layer which at least partly envelops the fibres (2) forming the support (1).
19. A substrate according to Claim 18, characterised in that the layer consists of silicone, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, wax, paraffin, polyolefin or similar materials or of mixtures thereof.
20. A substrate according to Claim 18, characterised in that the layer consists of a substance which is soluble in a liquid, particularly water or alcohol, for example of gelatine, starch, soaps, fatty alcohols, polyvinyl alcohol, waterglass or mixtures thereof.
21. A substrate according to any one of Claims 1 to 20, characterised in that it has a density of less than 0.45 g/cm³.
22. A substrate according to any one of Claims 1 to 21, characterised in that it is provided with an imprint on at least one surface (5).
23. A substrate according to any one of Claims 1 to 22, characterised in that it is provided with a finish, preferably transparent, on at least one surface (5).
24. A substrate according to any one of Claims 1 to 23, characterised in that it is provided on at least one surface (5) with a thin coating (7), preferably of polyurethane or PVC, the fibres projecting from the surface being embedded in the coating.
25. A substrate according to Claim 4, characterised in that the coating has a thickness of less than 0.35 mm.
26. A substrate according to Claim 24, characterised in that the non-impregnated surface (5) of the support (1) is provided with a coating (7).
27. A substrate according to any one of Claims 1 to 26, characterised in that the non-abraded surface is printed with a dispersion containing hollow microspheres.
28. A method for manufacturing a nubuck-leather-like or suede-like substrate, where a foam (3) is formed from an aqueous plastics dispersion by the stirring-in or beating-in of air, this foam (3) being introduced into a textile support (1) in such a way that it penetrates this textile support (1) at least in the region of its surface (5), and subsequently the textile support (1) is dried by drawing off the water, characterised in that a support (1) consisting of a fleece is used; in that the foam (3) is introduced into the textile support (1) by the action of excess pressure in such a way that, starting from a surface (5) of the textile support (1), only one region between 20% and 60% of the total thickness of the textile support (1) is impregnated, and in that subsequently the said surface (5) is abraded in such a way that the fibres (2) of the fleece in part project from the impregnated surface (5).
29. A method according to Claim 28, characterised in that the aqueous plastics dispersion foamed by incorporation of air is mixed with hollow microspheres (4) made of a thermoplastic material, preferably polyvinylidene chloride, or compact particles of a thermoplastic material, preferably polyvinylidene chloride, containing an expanding agent, the compact particles being formed in situ into hollow microspheres (4) by addition of heat.
30. A method according to Claim 29, characterised in that the aqueous plastics dispersion is exposed to heat-sensitive means, for example by using a substance such as polyvinyl methyl ether.
31. A method according to Claim 28, characterised in that the aqueous plastics dispersion is adjusted to a pH value which differs from the pH value of the textile support (1) or of the fibres (2) forming the textile support.
32. A method according to Claim 28, characterised in that the textile support (1) or the fibres (2) forming the textile support, before the aqueous plastics dispersion is incorporated therein, is/are provided with a coating of water-repellent material, e.g. silicone, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, wax, paraffin, polyolefin or similar materials or mixtures thereof.
33. A method according to Claim 28, characterised in that the textile support (1) or the fibres (2) forming the textile support, before the aqueous plastics dispersion is incorporated, is provided with a coating of a substance which is soluble on the action of a liquid, e.g. water or alcohol, and that, during or after the compacting of the foam, this substance is at least partly removed again by the action of the said liquid.
34. A method according to Claim 28, characterised in that the textile support (1) or the fibres (2) forming the textile support is/are impregnated with a solution, emulsion or dispersion containing a solid which is soluble in a liquid, or with a gel.
35. A method according to Claim 28, characterised in that the impregnated support (1), after it has been dried, is subjected to a chemical treatment, e.g. by hot water, or, preferably with the simultaneous application of heat, to a mechanical treatment, e.g. by stretching, elongation and/or tumbling.
36. A method according to Claim 28, characterised in that the increase in thickness of the textile support (1) is removed by the abrasive treatment after the plastics dispersion has dried.
37. A method according to Claim 28, characterised in that the impregnated support (1) is embossed and compacted, at least on one surface, during action of pressure and heat.
38. A method according to Claim 28, characterised in that the impregnated support (1) is printed, preferably with a printing ink containing, as a binding agent, polymethacrylic acid methyl ester or polyurethane.

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