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Base coats, top coats and intermediates for natural and synthetic leather, with flex resistance and reliable anchoring on uppers.
Leather finishing and footwear
Leather finishing is the historic field of water-based polyurethane dispersions. The film has to bond to a natural, uneven substrate, follow its deformation without lifting, and survive repeated flexing.
On sports footwear with leather uppers the top coat works under particularly harsh conditions: constant flexing, abrasion and contact with moisture. The choice between polyester and polycarbonate depends on the service life required.
Typical uses
Anchoring base coats on natural leather Protective top coats and surface finishes Synthetic leather finishing Top coats for sports footwear Leather goods and accessories For the full picture: what water-based polyurethane dispersions are their technical characteristics
Recommended products
The bases suited to this sector
Non-yellowing. A polyurethane dispersion free from free isocyanate, designed for base layers that need to stay flexible over time.
A dispersion free from free isocyanate for surface finishes, compatible with a wide range of acrylic emulsions.
A polycarbonate base for coatings that need to withstand hydrolysis and abrasion longer than average.
Source: information on fields of use provided by Aqua Polymers S.r.l., Tromello (PV), Italy. · Last updated: September 2026.
Frequently asked questions
The questions we hear most
Which product works as a base coat on natural leather? Both the soft aliphatic polyester and the anionic polyether base coat are recommended as base coats on natural leather.
Do the dispersions work on synthetic leather as well? Yes. The dispersions are applied to both natural and synthetic leather, with the formulation adjusted to the substrate.
Does the film withstand repeated flexing? Polyurethane dispersions form elastic films that tolerate repeated flexing. The degree of flexibility is set during synthesis.
Can a matt or gloss finish be achieved? Yes. Polyurethane dispersions can form matt, clear or gloss films depending on how they are synthesised and formulated.
For information about our products
0382 868402
Via Buccellati 2/4 — 27020 Tromello (PV)
