leather

Leather is animal skin - it is not man made. It can be taken from different animals - common ones are calf skin, pig leather, ostrich leather etc etc. So the chemical components would be those naturally found in skin, same as yours. Fake leather is PVC - polyvinyl chloride.

Fake Leather/Man made leather: Polyvinyl chloride, better known as PVC or [|vinyl] , is an inexpensive plastic so versatile it has become completely pervasive in modern society. The list of products made from polyvinylchloride is exhaustive, ranging from [|phonograph] records to drainage and potable piping, water bottles, cling film, [|credit cards] and toys. More uses include window frames, rain gutters, wall paneling, doors, wallpapers, flooring, garden furniture, binders and even pens. Even imitation leather is a product of polyvinyl chloride. In fact, it's hard to turn anywhere without seeing some form of this plastic. In 1913, polyvinyl chloride became the first synthetic product ever patented. However, its diversity and ubiquitousness is now in question, as it comes from a highly toxic production industry and potentially remains an environmental threat throughout all phases of its life. In addition to the toxic chemical processing required to make PVC, mounting research indicates a tendency for some PVC products to leech harmful chemicals, with a possible link to health risks and environmental contamination. Additionally, polyvinyl chloride is not biodegradable, a fact that manufacturers promote as a plus, while environmentalists count it among many of polyvinyl chloride 's drawbacks. They point to the ever-growing massive amounts of discarded PVC products and shrinking landfills, and the potential for long-term leeching that could lead to ground water contamination. Polyvinylchloride should not be burned, as it can release harmful gas, and recycling is difficult because of the diverse additives used in various products.