QILIN materials
The QILIN is a legendary creature from Chinese mythology, depicted with fur, scales, and horns. It symbolizes prosperity and future greatness. The QILIN range takes its name from this mythical animal, embodying its spirit of hybridity and the noble values it represents.
Polymers reinforced by a unique natural fiber : leather powder
The materials in the QILIN range are natural fiber-reinforced composites that combine performance and durability. Made from a thermoplastic polymer matrix incorporating fibers from renewable resources, these composite materials offer a responsible and high-performance alternative.
Until now dominated by plant fibers such as linen, hemp or sisal, these solutions are taking a new step thanks to Authentic Material, a pioneer in the use of leather as a natural reinforcement.
Thanks to its exceptional quality and controlled particle size, our powder can be incorporated at high levels into various matrices, without altering their mechanical properties.
From an environmental perspective, this choice of QILIN material extends the life of the leather, while reducing the use of virgin resources and limiting the impacts linked to their extraction or production.
Description of the QILIN range
QILIN materials are made of 50% leather powder and 50% polymer. The polymers, often misleadingly called plastics , that we use are either recycled or bio-sourced, meaning they come entirely or largely from renewable resources, such as castor beans.
The materials in the range are available in different Shore hardness grades from soft to rigid, using different types of polymers (PA, TPU, PP, PEBA, EVA, etc.).
Delivered in the form of granules, QILIN materials work with standard plastic manufacturing techniques, such as injection molding, thermoforming or 3D printing. It is a recycled and recyclable alternative – through mechanical grinding – to conventional fossil-based plastics, widely used in fashion, luxury, automotive and consumer products.
Customer benefits
- Reduced environmental footprint : material can be 100% bio-sourced or recycled, enriched with natural fibers from renewable carbon resources, and fully recyclable.
- Reduced plastic consumption : up to 50% thanks to a high leather powder loading rate.
- Leather recycling in volume : in the order of several hundred tons per year, made possible by a percentage of up to 50% leather powder, and an industrial processing unit.
- Improvement of mechanical performance : shrinkage (up to – 90%), deformation (divided by 10), dimensional stability, compromise between mechanical resistance and rigidity (up to + 80%).
- Lightness : controlled density between 1 and 1.3, lower than glass fiber reinforced composites.
- Ready to use : compatible with existing plastics processing and supply chain shaping techniques.
- Made in France : internalization of main activities and local outsourcing within 500 km.
QILIN material applications
