Flokser Safety Footwear Polyurethane Systems

Shoes and slippers, essential parts of our daily lives, must be designed with consideration for durability, flexibility, lightness and comfort in some cases, while in others the focus is purely on style and fashion compliance. Due to its significant advantages such as the ability to be formulated for applications in many different properties and fields, polyurethane has become a highly preferred material in recent years for slipper and shoe sole applications. Within Flokser Kimya, polyurethane systems in different density and hardness values applicable with injection and low-pressure casting machines are produced for the manufacture of summer, winter, spring and sport soles, slippers, single and dual density safety shoes and boots.

Soft PU Slipper System

In the slipper sector where our company has pioneered many innovative solutions in the Turkish market, we aimed to differentiate ourselves again with a new polyurethane system featuring superior elasticity properties at low hardness and density values. The visual of slipper samples produced with our new polyurethane system, presented to the market as a three-component system comprising prepolymer, polyol and catalyst, is provided in Figure 1. We believe our new polyurethane system, which will create a significant difference in the sector with the advantages outlined below, will do so through examination of reaction conditions and mechanical properties of slippers produced with a low-pressure casting machine. The results obtained are provided in Table 1. While polyurethane systems providing high hardness values have generally been used in slipper products, in recent years the increasing expectations of consumers for comfort and ease have shifted manufacturers' focus towards products with lower hardness values. In response to this demand, our company, which has created a significant difference in the sector through customer-oriented work, aimed to enable the production of slipper products at 40-45 Shore A hardness values with high flexibility through the system we developed. In the flex resistance test conducted according to TS EN ISO 17707 standard, the growth of the notch opened after 30,000 steps was found to be <4 mm, and a significantly superior performance was achieved compared to systems used in this field.

Ultra Light PU Slipper (ELD Slipper: Extremely Light Slipper)

It is now possible to produce slippers at approximately 50 Shore A hardness in mold density of 200kg/m³ according to changing mold models! Flokser Kimya, with its wide product range, understands the needs of manufacturers and sets direction for the sector. One of the most important recent needs is the development of slipper systems with the same properties but applicable at lower mold density. We are introducing an ultra-light slipper system to the market in order both to address user interest in ergonomics and to enable manufacturers to produce slippers with the same properties but lower weight. The reaction conditions and mechanical properties of slipper samples pressed under customer conditions using a low-pressure casting machine were examined and the results obtained are provided in Table 2. Flokser Kimya, with its wide product range, understands the needs of manufacturers and sets direction for the sector. One of the most important recent needs is the development of slipper systems with the same properties but applicable at lower mold density. We are introducing an ultra-light slipper system to the market in order both to address user interest in ergonomics and to enable manufacturers to produce slippers with the same properties but lower weight. The reaction conditions and mechanical properties of slipper samples pressed under customer conditions using a low-pressure casting machine were examined and the results obtained are provided in Table 2. The Ultra Light PU Slipper system prioritizes lightness by providing the option to be applied at 200kg/m³ mold density, while ensuring safe use with its superior dimensional stability. When compared with standard slipper products currently available in the sector, it offers a 35% weight advantage depending on different mold models.

Dual Density Polyurethane Safety Shoes

Safety shoes developed based on the ease of application of polyurethane consist of 2 layers: an outer sole and an intermediate sole. While the outer sole provides durability, the intermediate sole offers comfort to the user. The outer sole, which resists heat, cold, water, pressure, rust and oil, together with the breathable intermediate sole, ensures you stand firm against the elements as a whole. In addition to Flokser Kimya's innovations in the slipper and sole field, our new polyurethane system, known as a safety shoe and aimed at protecting human health, aims to make a difference in this field as well. With the new product shown in Figure 2, in a 3-component polyurethane system it is possible to produce both outer sole and intermediate sole by changing only the catalyst component.  

Figure 2. Visual of dual density safety shoe

With the advantages outlined, component properties, reaction conditions and mechanical properties were examined in the new polyurethane system and the results obtained are provided in Table 3. The results of tests performed on our product within the scope of EN ISO 20344 standard applied to safety shoes among personal protective equipment are provided in Table 4. With our new polyurethane system developed in the Flokser Kimya R&D Center, a dual density safety shoe system applicable in intermediate sole and outer sole applications has been introduced to the market. *Reaction and working conditions were obtained as a result of measurements made with a low-pressure casting machine operating at 6000rpm. ** According to TS EN 12222 standard, test results are provided for samples after conditioning for 24 hours at 23±2°C temperature and 50% relative humidity. Kübra Sarper - R&D Specialist / R&D Specialist - Flokser Kimya Kerim Can Ünlü / R&D Specialist- R&D Specialist / Flokser Kimya