Nike GS football boot incorporates bio-based material in sole plate

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.

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.”