Olympic Games: Advanced materials and recycled plastics in sportswear

This year’s Olympic Games in London showcased the innovations of sportswear companies in their latest line of apparel, sports shoes and sports gear in using advanced plastic materials.

The new “Adipure” line of training shoes from Adidas supports natural running through a rolling motion over the metatarsus and forefoot. The shoe derives its special properties from materials developed by Bayer MaterialScience. The new line of training shoes from adidas supports natural running through a rolling motion over the metatarsus and forefoot. The shoes also satisfy runners' other requirements, as the upper material of the shoe, which envelops the foot seamlessly like a second skin, has been made possible through the unique properties of a textile coating based on a polyurethane dispersion from Bayer MaterialScience's Impranil range.  

The textile coating is known for its high resilience. It is vital for the runner that it is applied precisely to the upper material at the points where the foot needs support. The coated material braces the foot but also offers it enough freedom to stretch. As a result, it makes a decisive contribution to the runner's perfect natural running experience.   

When it came to designing the coating, Adidas drew on the results of measurements obtained with the help of sensors placed on runners' bare feet. The application of the coating provided the designers with almost unlimited design scope. The process protects the synthetic upper because the shoe is not subjected to any thermal stress during production.  

Screen-printed coatings based on Impranil are also used as highly elastic bands in the latest Adidas jerseys with TECHFIT PowerWeb technology. When the bands are stretched in competition, the material briefly stores the energy of an athlete's movement, which would normally be lost, and converts it into increased speed and power. This improves performance and prevents premature fatigue. The higher compression avoids undesirable muscle vibration that can affect an athlete's performance. 

Full-length body suits from recycled plastic

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