In another embodiment, the stabilizers can be selected from barium, calcium, cadmium, tin, lead, antimony, thiols or mercaptans, phosphites or phosphates, SOM, zinc, magnesium and/or phenolics, UV stabilizers, nano-titanium oxides, β-diketones, epoxy-based, perchlorate-based stabilizers and/or amine-based stabilizers, or mixtures thereof. In a further embodiment, the UV stabilizers can be selected from one or more members of the groups consisting of benzotriazole or hindered amine light stabilizers.

In another embodiment, the fillers can be selected from calcium carbonate, silicates, barium sulfate, celulose, calcium sulfate, barium sulfate, silicon dioxide, aluminium hydroxide, aluminium oxide, zinc oxide, hydrated magnesium silicate and zinc bromide or mixtures thereof.

In another embodiment, the flame retardants can be selected from antimony oxide, aluminium oxide, hydrotalcide, alumina Trihydrate, magnesium hydroxide, magnesium carbonate, calcium carbonate, zinc borate, various phosphates such as ammonium phosphate, expandable graphite and brominated and chlorinated plasticizers or mixtures thereof.

In an embodiment, the auxiliary substances can be selected from viscosity aids, adhesion promoters, or mixtures thereof.

In another embodiment, the pigments can be selected from organic but also inorganic pigments, metal pigments, metal pigments with superficial coatings, multi-layered pigments, in particular iridescent pigments; complex inorganic colored pigments; organic pigments coated with metal, or mixtures thereof.

In an embodiment, the production of the material comprises three sequential steps:

- 1. Production of different PVC fluid pastes (plastisol) for each PVC layer by mixing the plastisol's components, namely PVC powder, plasticizers, stabilizers, kickers, anti-aging agents, fillers, flame retardants, pigments, additives or mixtures thereof. Said components were mixed simultaneously with slow addition of water in order to create water droplets, thus forming a water-in-oil emulsion. In an embodiment, the water-to-oil ratio ranges from 1/10 to 1/1, preferably 1/8 to 1/2. The water-in-oil ratio was obtained considering that the oil corresponds only to the plasticizer and stabilizer fractions.
- 2. Production of the semi-manufacture PVC through coating, with successive deposition of the plastisol mixtures prepared beforehand, on a hydrophobic base in a continuous form. In an embodiment, the hydrophobic base is a casting and release paper. Each plastisol paste is sequentially spread with the aid of a knife/blade. Between applications, the plastisol undergoes a gelling process inside an oven at 200±5° C. for 1 minute. Then, the textile (support layer) is applied on top of the uncured second plastisol layer and the resulting set undergoes the same gelling process. In an embodiment after, the hydrophobic paper support is removed, and the orientation of the PVC semi-manufacture is flapped.
- 3. Finishing the PVC semi-manufacture with a water permeable lacquer. The thickness of the water permeable lacquer is no more than 50 μm when applied and preferably at least 15 μm when fully dried. In an embodiment, the water permeable lacquer is preferably a polyurethane lacquer layer. The lacquer layer is spread on top of the PVC that was in contact with the casting and release paper.

For the scope of the present disclosure, a “casting and release paper” is defined as a release paper which imparts patterns and gloss to the surface of resins cured on its surface. In an embodiment, the casting and release paper is coated with a hydrophobic layer, such as silicone, for easy peeling-off.

In an embodiment, the hydrophobic casting and release paper has a maximum width of 242 centimeters and a basis weight of 159 g m².

Example 2—Preparation of Version 2 of Layered Flexible Material of the Present Disclosure (FIG. 2)

In an embodiment, the flexible artificial leather material described in the present example (FIG. 2) comprises the same number of layers as described in Example 1 but without the addition of water on the PVC fluid paste (plastisol). As a result, the artificial leather obtainable by the present example did not have the breathability and moisture management as observed for the samples obtained in Example 1. Near infrared-radiation reflective pigment (NIR), namely Lumogen® black 0087, were also added to the PVC fluid paste in a concentration ranging from 4 to 8% (w/w).

Example 3—Preparation of Version 3 of Layered Flexible Material of the Present Disclosure (FIG. 3)

In an embodiment, the breathable and flexible artificial leather material (FIG. 3) was produced following the same steps as described in Example 1. However, the plastisol mixture used to prepare the PVC layer that was directly deposited on the casting and release paper further comprised a near infrared-radiation transparent pigment (Lumogen® black 0087) as described in Example 2.

Example 4—Description of the Control Material (PVC Standard, Comparative Example, FIG. 4)

The flexible artificial leather material described in the present example (FIG. 4) comprises one extra layer as compared with Example 1, this is an additional adhesive layer. This additional layer is a PVC adhesive layer arranged between the textile support layer and a foam PVC layer. In this example, both adhesive and foam layers contain the same components described in Example 1 (PVC powder, plasticizers, stabilizers, anti-aging agents, fillers, flame retardants, auxiliary substances, pigments, or mixtures thereof) but also a chemical foaming agent, preferably Azodicarbonamide.

In an embodiment, the production of the material also comprises three sequential steps:

- 1. Production of different PVC fluid pastes (plastisol) for each type of PVC layers (such as foam and adhesive) by mixing plastisol's components, namely PVC powder, plasticizers, stabilizers, anti-aging agents, fillers, flame retardants, pigments, or mixtures thereof, until a good dispersion is achieved. The plastisol solutions used to prepare the foam and adhesive layers further comprises a chemical foaming agent, a kicker, or mixtures thereof.
- 2. Production of semi-manufacture PVC through coating, with deposition of the three plastisol solutions prepared beforehand, on a hydrophobic paper support, in a continuous form. Each plastisol paste was sequentially spread with the aid of a knife/blade according to the following order: PVC layer, foam layer and adhesive layer. Between applications the plastisol undergoes a gelling process inside an oven at 200±5° C. for 1 minute. Then, the textile is applied on top of the adhesive PVC layer, and the resulting set undergoes the same gelling process.
- 3. Finishing the PVC semi-manufacture with a lacquer, whose thickness is no more than 50 μm, as in Example 1.

Example 5—Description of the Reference Material (PVC Mechanically Perforated, Comparative Example, FIG.