Nike GS Football Boot Incorporates Bio-Based Pearlthane® ECO TPU in the Sole Plate Helping to Reduce Weight by 15 Percent

Nike uses bio-based TPU soccer boot and thus leads a new era of elite soccer shoes

Merquinsa, a Lubrizol company, announces that its Pearlthane® ECO TPUs are incorporated into Nike’s recently released GS football boot. TPUs (thermoplastic polyurethanes) are known for outstanding mechanical properties, and Pearlthane ECO is no exception.

This bio-based product line provides an alternative to 100 percent petroleum-based TPU materials, without compromising any performance properties. The Pearlthane ECO product line has an 82 to 95 Shore A hardness and covers a range of 32 percent to 46 percent bio-based content as demonstrated according to ASTM D-6866.

The Pearlthane ECO product line was specifically designed for the sports and recreation market and provides the required performance properties for high quality footwear. These properties include excellent abrasion resistance and cold flexibility combined with improved hydrolysis resistance and good adhesion to other non-TPU shoe components. With a low density as compared to its petroleum-based counterparts, Pearlthane ECO TPUs provide sports footwear manufacturers with a lightweight and cost-efficient material that contributes to making the Nike GS football boot’s sole plate 15 percent 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.”

About The Lubrizol Corporation:
The Lubrizol Corporation, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is an innovative specialty chemical company that produces and supplies technologies to customers in the global transportation, industrial and consumer markets. These technologies include lubricant additives for engine oils, other transportation-related fluids and industrial lubricants, as well as fuel additives for gasoline and diesel fuel. In addition, Lubrizol makes ingredients and additives for personal care products and pharmaceuticals; specialty materials, including plastics technology and performance coatings in the form of specialty resins and additives. Lubrizol’s industry-leading technologies in additives, ingredients and compounds enhance the quality, performance and value of customers’ products, while reducing their environmental impact.
With headquarters in Wickliffe, Ohio, The Lubrizol Corporation owns and operates manufacturing facilities in 17 countries, as well as sales and technical offices around the world. Founded in 1928, Lubrizol has approximately 7,000 employees worldwide. Revenues for 2011 were $6.1 billion.

About Merquinsa:
Merquinsa is leading TPU specialty producer, providing innovative products for injection molding, extrusion, calendering, melt coating, compounding and adhesive applications.
Merquinsa was recently acquired by The Lubrizol Corporation. The Merquinsa product lines are now integrated into Lubrizol’s Engineered Polymers business.

Source

Merquinsa, press release, 2012-10-26.

Supplier

Merquinsa
Nike
The Lubrizol Corporation

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