Merquinsa, a Lubrizol company, announced that its bio-based line, Pearlthane ECO TPUs, is incorporated into Nike’s recently released GS football boot.
The bio-based thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) are an alternative to petroleum-based material, with a Shore A hardness of 82-95. It covers a range of 32-46% bio-based content as demonstrated according to ASTM D-6866. According to Merquinsa, the Pearlthane ECO line was specifically designed for the sports and recreation market. It has strong abrasion resistance and cold flexibility combined with improved hydrolysis resistance and good adhesion to other non-TPU shoe components.
With this material, Nike has created a sole plate for its GS football boot that is 15% lighter than a traditional plate composition. “The Nike GS is the lightest and fastest football boot we’ve ever made and really defines a new era in how we create, design and produce elite football boots,” said Andy Caine, Global Design Director for Nike Football. “When you can deliver a boot that combines high-end performance and a low environmental footprint, that’s a winning proposition for players and planet.”
According to Dr Jesus Santamaria, Global bio TPU Platform Manager, “Combining Merquinsa’s ECO portfolio with Lubrizol’s bio-based products allows us to continually innovate and cater to the needs of environmentally-conscious footwear manufacturers with high-end performance and bio-based specialty elastomers. We intend to continue to find new ways to position ourselves as a global solutions provider for the sports and recreation industry.”
Source : http://www.adsalecprj.com/Publicity/MarketNews/lang-eng/article-128186/Article.aspx
