Salomon shoes first to feature SCF-made Elastollan
A pair of sports shoes by French outdoor brand Salomon will be first to market with a midsole made by BASF with Elastollan thermoplastic polyurethane using supercritical fluid (SCF) foaming technology, the materials developer has revealed.
The use of SCF for the midsole makes post-consumer recycling a possibility, BASF’s Singapore office said, as no crosslinking or chemical blowing agents were needed during the foaming process.
SCFs enable the construction of low-density, finely structured foam with a uniform cell structure for improved performance. This results in enhanced foam durability and stability, according to one of Salomon footwear’s material engineers, Renaud Guillot.
Additionally, no plasticisers were used for this trainer model, which Salomon has named Index.02, and the foaming technology demands less energy during production, the manufacturer underlined.
“In footwear applications, Elastollan offers excellent properties, such as mechanical strength, durability and comfort,” commented vice-president for consumer industry at BASF Performance Materials Asia-Pacific, Minli Zhao. “With SCF foaming technology, we are now providing sports brands with a new approach to cushioning.”
The shoes, due to launch via Salomon’s website this month, mark the first-ever footwear application of Elastollan produced using SCF direct injection foaming technology.
Salomon’s Index.02 trainers with an SCF-made Elastollan midsole. Courtesy.
