Bonded Leather Board vs Split Leather
Natural Material · grade comparison
Bonded Leather Board and Split Leather are both natural material grades. Split Leather is the stronger of the two: tensile strength 12 MPa (1.74 ksi) against 8 MPa (1.16 ksi) for Bonded Leather Board, about 50% more. Split Leather is the more ductile: elongation 55% versus 15% for Bonded Leather Board. Bonded Leather Board is lighter (0.7 g/cm³ vs 0.9 g/cm³ for Split Leather) and Bonded Leather Board is stiffer (0.45 GPa vs 0.1 GPa). On the shop floor, Bonded Leather Board sits in a lower cost tier (standard, $$) than Split Leather (high, $$$$).
Bonded Leather BoardChoose it when weight is the constraint, or when the part sees heat.
Split LeatherChoose it when strength drives the design, or when the part is bent, formed or impact-loaded.
Bonded Leather Board vs Split Leather: propertiesHow to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all natural material grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
How to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all natural material grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
Bonded Leather BoardSplit Leather
Mechanical
Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.
Elastic (Young's) Modulus
Poisson's Ratio
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Elongation at Break
Compressive Strength
Flexural Strength
Shear Strength
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Density
Porosity
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Thermal Conductivity
Specific Heat Capacity
Max Service Temperature (continuous)
Same in both: Min Service Temperature -30°C-22 °F
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Electrical Resistivity
Chemical & Environmental
Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).
Corrosion Resistance
Manufacturability
FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.
Machinability
Polishability
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Embodied Energy (primary production)
Embodied Carbon (primary production)
Embodied Water
Typical Recycled Content
Common Calculations
Ratios derived from the values above.
Specific Strength (UTS / density)
Specific Stiffness (E / density)
Same in both: Thermal Diffusivity 0.1 mm²/s
Strength versus weight
Yield strength against density for every natural material grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.
Manufacturing and finishing
| Capability | Bonded Leather Board | Split Leather |
|---|---|---|
| Default condition | — | — |
| Relative cost | $$ Standard | $$$$ High |
| Min. machined wall | — | — |
| Best machined surface | — | — |
Bonded Leather Board vs Split Leather — frequently asked
Is Split Leather stronger than Bonded Leather Board?
Yes. Split Leather has a typical tensile strength of 12 MPa (1.74 ksi) against 8 MPa (1.16 ksi) for Bonded Leather Board — about 50% more.
Which is cheaper, Bonded Leather Board or Split Leather?
Bonded Leather Board is the lower-cost material: it sits in the standard tier ($$) while Split Leather is high ($$$$). Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
When should I choose Bonded Leather Board over Split Leather?
Pick Bonded Leather Board when weight is the constraint, or when the part sees heat. Pick Split Leather when strength drives the design, or when the part is bent, formed or impact-loaded.
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in Bonded Leather Board and Split Leather side by side — material, machining time, tolerance and finish in one quote. Certified material data ships with the order on request.
Typical handbook values for the conditions named above, normalised for comparison. Hardness on non-Brinell scales is converted approximately for charting only. Request certified data with your order for design-critical properties.