Kostron composite reinforced high performance sports shoes

Desmo pant Pu and Ma Ezio carbon fiber reinforced TPU fibers are used in basketball shoes and foot shape based running shoe concepts to show comfort, fashion, durability and excellent performance.

Cove STR OAG (Germany) reported that it was working with a Chinese footwear designer to further develop innovative footwear concepts, especially high-performance basketball shoes and foot based running shoes, using its composite solutions. Kostron said that the final product is expected to show consumers comfort, fashion, durability and excellent performance, just like its thermoplastic KT6 basketball shoes.

The upper is made of desmo pan thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) fiber of the company, and the midsole is printed with thermoplastic polyurethane powder (TPU) powder by selective laser sintering (SLS). Kostron said that its TPU powder has high tear resistance and wear resistance. It is an ideal choice for running shoes because of its flexibility and high energy return. As an additional benefit, most of the remaining powder in the process can be recycled.

The shoe also adopts the Ma Ezio carbon fiber reinforced TPU (CFR TP) body developed by the company. It is said to be light, but very hard and torsion resistant. It provides a high degree of design freedom and strong visual appeal to capture the appearance of unidirectional (UD) carbon fiber. This material is also recyclable: kostron points out that Ma Ezio composites can be cut and remelted for reuse at the end of their service life, or reground into short fiber compounds and used in injection molding processes.

For the basketball shoe manufacturers who want to help relieve foot fatigue and provide sport comfort, the viscoelastic polyurethane foam placed on the insole is an option to optimize energy absorption and shock resistance, says cosset.

The running shoe concept uses a waterproof sq in coating.