Sporting Industry
Sports sector in the running for plastics Ease, comfort, safety and performance are a few of the criteria that are changing how materials used in sporting goods are being developed, says Angelica Buan.
Evonik's Vestamid CW1401 is used for the UPZ brand ski and snowboard boots
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growing participation in sports activities is giving the sports goods market a leg up. By 2020, the sports goods market is expected to reach the multi-billion dollar mark. The global sports apparel market, according to data by Allied Market Research, is projected to reach US$184.6; while the global sports equipment market is expected to be valued at US$8.18 billion during the forecast period, citing Persistence Market Research’s assessment of the market. Sports activities demand optimum performance whether from serious or leisure athletes. Thus, gears and attires must match the users’ need for speed, comfort and unbridled movement. As well, sports equipment is required to be durable yet light weight. In this regard, innovating materials is high up in the agenda of manufacturers to develop sports products that deliver performance – from shoes, caps, tops and pants to goggles, gloves, and protective equipment such as helmets, and knee and elbows pads, to prevent injuries. Industry aims for innovation Major industry players are always darting for new technologies and adapting their products to global industry trends. German speciality chemicals company Evonik, which has been supplying its Smart Materials concepts to the sporting industry for 30 years now, has developed a new plastic for demanding applications in professional sports. Its Vestamid CW1401 is an impact modified polyamide 12 (PA 12), which combines elasticity and stability at temperatures as low as -40°C. The new PA12 moulding compound boasts low-temperature impact strength, which at 101 kJ/m² is twice as strong as other materials. This means that it can be used in applications where extreme pressure is applied and where stable properties are required from the materials at low temperatures. This combination makes Vestamid CW1401 suited for the new ski and snowboard boots of the Austrian professional brand UPZ. The boot parts that are subject to the greatest pressure are manufactured from Evonik’s latest nylon using an injection-moulding process. The firm says the boots ensure optimal power transfer during a race, while allowing the greatest possible flexibility and maximum comfort. Meanwhile, US-based Lubrizol Corporation's Engineered Polymers business is offering its latest non-yellowing thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) materials for improved durability of sports gears. The new TPU, which was among the company’s showcased technologies at the recently held Fakuma exhibition in Germany, is an addition to Lubrizol’s aliphatic TPU technology portfolio. It is said to provide improved weatherability and UV resistance, compared to other elastomeric materials. The aliphatic range includes the Pearlthane aliphatic TPU materials, which are said to offer added value performance including haptics for demanding moulded applications in sports and recreation, consumer and industrial markets, while colour-stable Pearlcoat Activa D198K TPU, a soft low-gloss material, can be applied in white and light-coloured parts as a thermoformed and co-extruded solution. The latest development, Pearlbond 960 EXP, is said to add a combination of features including softness (69 shore A), durability (UV stable and resistant to fungi and microorganisms) and bonding strength to various substrates. It is also suitable for bonding delicate fabrics such as silk, linen and cotton.
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017