look what we did!
Category: Athletics
Breakthroughs in 3D Printing for Running Shoes
Manufacturers of athletic shoes are always looking for ways to improve the comfort and performance of their footwear. 3-D printing, which in the past has help speed up the prototyping process, is now enabling the creation of custom shoes with special properties and may someday even be thought of as a viable process for mass production.
Polyurethane materials are helping to make 3D printed shoes reality, but often in different ways. One manufacturer created a special pair of shoes for Eulid Kipchoge, winner of the 2018 London Marathon, with uppers made of 3-D printed thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). The company claims these 3-D printed fabrics are more dynamic and cut down on the frictional resistance caused by interlaced fibers. They also claim that the material is “lighter and more breathable”, a notion supported by the fact that Kipchoge’s shoes weighed .4 ounces less than the previous model that had been created for him.
Other manufacturers use liquid systems to “draw” the polyurethane onto the shoe rather than using a mold. This enables both a more custom fit and a better foot support.
Still others are continuing to improve the use of biomechanical data from world-class athletes to create 3-D printed TPU midsoles with elaborate structures to help balance the needs of flexibility, strength, weight and durability.
And, of course, once printed, uppers and soles need to be permanently affixed. For that job, polyurethane adhesives play an important role: They help to speed the bonding process and can help eliminate time-consuming steps due to their quick-curing nature.
For now, the most custom innovations are still one-off achievements. But recent projects suggest that larger scale manufacturing is not far off and polyurethane could be part of the solution.
Related Articles
As you travel in a car, bus, or train you might not give much thought to the windows and windshields…Read more
The Annual Polyurethane Innovation Award Each year, the Center for the Polyurethanes Industry presents the Polyurethane Innovation Award. This honor…Read more
Name: Norman Su Age: 33 Title: New Business Development Manager Company: Huntsman Educational Background: B.S. Chemical Engineering, Business Minor, Cornell…Read more
Homeowners today are looking to maximize every square inch of their living space. As we find ourselves not just eating…Read more
As readers of this blog know, 3D printing has helped revolutionize the design and manufacturing of everything from housing to…Read more
Planning an outdoor adventure? Here are 10 items to be sure to bring for maximum comfort and fun, all thanks…Read more
Have you ever thought about what makes the seats, armrests, or headrests in your car so comfortable? What is keeping…Read more
3D printing with polyurethane is showing up in one of the most unlikely of places — baseball gloves. Baseball gloves…Read more
Fresh air, delicious food, good times — there’s a lot to love about picnic season. Thanks to polyurethane, you can…Read more
Name: Brandon Parks Age: 34 Title: Senior Scientist Company: Covestro Educational Background: BS Chemistry – Lebanon Valley College BS Biochemistry…Read more
Wheat is one of the most widely grown crops on the planet, and it’s no wonder why. Wheat is a…Read more
Replacing an existing roof can be expensive and time consuming, especially when the goal is to cover tens of thousands…Read more
Name: Stephen MartinAge: 33Title: Technical ManagerCompany: BASF CorporationEducational Background: B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Michigan Like many young…Read more
With fall in full swing, football season is here. As your favorite teams take to the field this autumn, you…Read more
You likely know that cornhole is a favorite pastime at backyard barbecues and tailgates. But, you might be surprised to…Read more
You’ve heard of renewable energy sources like the wind and the sun, but what about a stretchy battery powered by…Read more
When it comes to spending a leisurely summer day out on the water, polyurethane plays many important roles. For example,…Read more
From the cars we drive to the mattresses we sleep on, polyurethane touches upon multiple aspects of day-to-day living —…Read more
As a young man growing up in Mexico, Jorge Vazquez says he was always curious about the world around him…Read more
This summer, we will come together in celebration and competition to crown top athletes from around the world. As these…Read more