At K 2010 held
last month in Düsseldorf Germany, Bayer MaterialScience presented a concept for
a new type of shoe.
The shoe
features polymers made from renewable resources and demonstrates the potential
for environmentally friendly materials in the shoe industry, a growing trend.
"Footwear
manufacturers, end consumers and, not least, the environment can all benefit
equally from this development," says John Zhang, head of Bayer
MaterialScience's Global Footwear Competence Center in Shanghai, where
the concept was developed.
The shoe cap
used in the prototype of a safety shoe is made from a blend of corn-based
polylactic acid and polycarbonate. It's also lighter than a conventional steel version.
The material is engineered for special impact resistance and is recyclable.
Click here for larger image.
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Thermoplastic
polyurethane based on a high proportion of renewable raw materials are used in
the concept shoe's heel counter, shoelace eyelets and the manufacturer's logo on the sole. The
abrasion- and wear-resistant bio-based TPU can also be used for traditional TPU
shoe components such as outsoles or decorative upper parts.
In
microcellular polyurethane elastomer systems for outer soles and midsoles
alone, the proportion of renewable raw materials is as high as 70 percent.
TPU films
form a vapor-permeable membrane to reinforce the inner sole, without using
plasticizers.
A
counterfeit-proof label based on polycarbonate film is laser engraved.
The green
shoe concept also offers health benefits for employees of shoe manufacturers.
"The aqueous coating and adhesive products are completely solvent-free and,
compared with conventional production, the polyurethane products used do not
contain any heavy metals. This is also important for disposal, once a shoe has
reached the end of its service life," says Dr. Zhang.
Bayer
MaterialScience is also working on development of materials from straw and wood
waste.
The Global
Footwear Competence Center was opened in Shanghai by Bayer MaterialScience in
response to the widespread movement of shoe manufacturing to China. Engineers from
the Simple Factory Group in China participated in the collaboration.
Established
in 2006, the Footwear Competence Center includes injection-molding machines for
thermoset and thermoplastic polyurethane applications, casting machines as well
as a pre-polymer and polyol formulation pilot plant.
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