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| Shoe Sole Material |
The history of
footwear is as old as that of humans. Ever since primates first walked on the
earth, footwear has been an issue. With natural evolution and added activities
for survival, foot protection especially of the soles has always been something
needing special attention.
Footwear soles
then, is an area of concern irrespective of the wearer and their activity.
With the advent
of industrialization and a complete change in life styles, more so in the last
3 decades, shoes soles too have undergone a sea change with natural material
like animal hides being unable to keep-up with the demand in terms of numbers
as also uses. The discovery of petroleum, hydrocarbons and related chemicals
spawned a new breed of decay-resistant materials finding increasingly
application in footwear, from sole up.
Mentioned below
are some of the alternatives to leather which have found favor with both the
wearers and the makers.
Ø Polyurethane
is the 1st choice for the creation of most kinds of shoe soles. The one great
feature aiding this choice is the presence of air bubbles introduced while it
is being created. Increase or decrease it and you get the sole of your choice.
Ever seen a fully inflated blister-paper used for packing? Well, the basic
construction of PU is something close though the air bubbles are much smaller
and more durable.
Double density
polyurethane is another format which combines different densities of
polyurethane, with the toughest type on the outside and a soft version on the
inside. This increases shock absorption and the durability of the shoes.
Ø Thermo Plastic Rubber
Thermoplasticising is a process by
which most mediums become pliable or moldable above a specific temperature, and
returns to a solid state upon cooling. Rubber, in granule form is molded and
compounded and is one material which gives easily to this process with
excellent results. These find use in
-
Slip resistance
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Excellent weatherability
-
Shock absorption
-
Ozone resistance
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Flexibility
-
Soft texture
Ø Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
Mostly
used in pipes and other uses where toughness and durability is most needed,
P.V.C. has extremely good durability and reasonable slip resistance. Given its
prices for what it can do, , it is also an alternative to making shoe soles. t
has some issue like being brittle and requires the use of glue to bind it to
the shoe upper unlike PU which can be meshed better to the upper.
Ø Latex Rubber soles:
Old-fashioned rubber
latex provides great surface grip and shock absorption, as well as bounce and
flexibility. It is otherwise used in making gloves and has the advantage of
being a completely natural material which once discarded, does not trouble the
eco-systems unlike the alternatives mentioned above.
Ø Leather:
The most used at
one time though it is fallen out of favor due to various reasons, it still
finds application in shoes which matter ie in executive shoes and for people
who can afford it and want to look elegant. Besides sheer looks, it has fairly
limited industrial use given that it is biodegradable in most cases. Demand for
animal hydes for use in other products as also the problems associated with
treating the hydes restricts its usage.
Safety shoes manufacturers in Pune and also suppliers of safety shoes in Pune use the
material most suited to their client’s usage and pockets. Given the importance
that Pune has industrially, companies like Sara Safety Shoes have made a niche for
themselves supplying industrial footwear of various kinds depending upon the
client’s needs which in Pune’s case is humongous right from Automotives to
light engineering to fabrications to sugar plants to…..you name it and we have
it.
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