look what we did!
Category: Apparel, Athletics, Innovation Bonds
Polyurethane Skinsuits Help British Skeleton Athletes To Victory
In the world of elite women’s skeleton racing, the difference between staking a place on the podium or not, can come down to a matter of milliseconds. In a sport where fractions of time can make a huge difference, it is no wonder that athletes, trainers and coaches are constantly scouting for new ways to shave a few precious moments off run times.
Whether it is making uniforms sleeker or sleds more aerodynamic, today, there is a whole industry dedicated to the science of helping racers go faster. However, even with every team jockeying for a clear advantage, definitive improvements in race design rarely happen. But when they do, they can make all the difference in helping a team take victory.
One such breakthrough recently occurred for the British women’s skeleton team. Racers donned special polyurethane skinsuits manufactured by a British design firm. To create these suits, the company used a 3D full body scan to gather the athletes’ exact measurements, ensuring a skintight fit that would help reduce wind resistance. However, the real innovation of the suits came down to a series of unique drag-resistant polyurethane ridges, developed by scientists. These were created to limit drag as the athletes raced down the course at speeds in a range of 80 to 90 miles per hour.
By some estimates, the 3D rendered polyurethane suits may have helped cut overall wind resistance by as much as five percent, resulting in a reduction of run times by about a second – a lifetime for these racers.
For Great Britain, the innovation in polyurethane design helped their women’s skeleton team clinch third and first places last year in Pyeongchang.
The firm, which produced the skeleton skinsuits, has also done the same for the British National Cycling team. Now, the UK government is helping to fund a research and development facility for the skinsuit firm, where the group will further concentrate on cutting wind resistance and creating innovation in their polyurethane uniform designs.
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