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BASF PolyurethanesYour Perfect Partner for Footwear

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Content

BASF Polyurethanes Worldwide Network Map

Heart and Soul of Good Footwear

Polyurethane for a More Comfortable Safety Shoe

The Long Lasting Casual Sole

Polyurethane the Sporting Choice

The Right Support for Little Feet


Sao Paulo, Brazil

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Mexico City, Mexico

Wyandotte, Livonia, United States

Alfreton, United Kingdom

Paris, France

Rubi, Spain

Brussels, BelgiumSchwarzheide, Germany

Villanova d’Asti Zingonia, Italia

Lemförde, Germany

Solymar, Hungary

Istanbul, Turkey

Johannesburg, South Africa

Nishnekamsk, Russian

Iran

Göteborg, Sweden

Geismar, United States

Minneapolis, United States

Toronto, CanadaBlackie, Canada

Clemson, United States

Houston, United States

Carrollton, United States

Orange, United States

Regional Business Unit NAFTA Regional Business Unit Europe Regional Business Unit Asia

YeosuUlsanSeoul

Japan

Shanghai

Beijing

TaiwanGuangzhou

Hong Kong

PhilippinesHo Chi Minh City

Nansha

Bangkok

New DelhiDhaka

Colombo

Mumbai

Lahore

Karachi

Kuala LumpurSingapore

Jakarta

Melbourne

Auckland

BASF Polyurethane Headquarter

Regional Headquarter

Regional Technical Development Center

Basic Chemical Plant

System House

TPU Plant

Asia Pacific Sales Offices

BASF Polyurethanes Worldwide Network Map


Heart and Soul of Good Footwear

Our shoes carry us through each day, stoically

delivering all that we expect from them in terms of

strength, comfort, fl exibility, and effortless style.

We all expect and demand these things in no small measure. The stiletto heel, for example,

routinely withstand the levels of pressure equal to one and a half kilometers under the sea.

During its lifetime, we expect a sport or work shoe to cushion and protect us from shocks,

strains and sprains through more than a million steps.


For a shoe manufacturer it can be a challenge to meet the varied demands that consumers

place on their shoes, but there is one special polymer that meets these many demands and is

so extraordinarily versatile that it is now the heart and soul of good, modern shoe technology.

Polyurethane (PU) is lightweight and extremely durable. With slight changes in its chemical

properties, it makes products as tough as the outsole on a safety shoe, as springy as the

cushioning in a cross-trainer, or as striking and versatile as synthetic leather.

BASF is a world-leader in PU technology, and through our Asia Footwear Technical Center

in Nansha, Guangdong, China, we make this technology available to footwear manufacturers

throughout Asia-Pacifi c, offering advanced, tailored solutions to any requirement.


Polyurethane for a More Comfortable Safety Shoe

Providing great cushioning as well as strength and

durability, polyurethane protects and comforts your

feet so that you can last all day long.

PU double-density safety shoes use polyurethane in both the hard, protective outsole and

the soft, cushioning insole. They are practical and lightweight and offer a range of advantages

including:

• reducing the shock forces to the feet, knees, hips and lower back

• reducing the risk of shock-related injury to the feet and lower back

• providing comfort by cushioning and soothing the feet all day

• giving ongoing protection to damaged or infl amed joints

• improving the fl exibility of the sole

BASF provides proven solutions to leading safety footwear manufacturers in Europe and Asia.

These all conform to the EU’s EN20344/20345 safety standards.


Safety Single densityDual density

Midsole Outsole

Density kg/m3 550 – 650 420 – 480 850 – 1,100

Hardness Shore A 55 – 65 40 – 50 55 – 65

Tensile strength N/mm2 5.0 – 7.0 3.5 – 4.5 11.0 – 23.5

Elongation at break % 370 – 450 325 – 400 600 – 700

Abrasion resistance mg 85 – 170 – 65 – 80

Flexural strength no cut growth 30,000 cycles 30,000 cycles 30,000 cycles


Many independent tests have shown that multi-density soling provides more effective

cushioning and shock absorption than a soft footbed placed inside a shoe with a hard,

heavy sole. BASF is the market leader in safety shoe soling in Europe and we are

constantly working with leading safety footwear companies to improve the comfort and

performance of safety shoes.

Upper

Cushion Comfort, PU foot bed

Flexible, non-woven insole board with fl ex perforations at the forepart

Lightweight, shock-absorb-ing PU midsole

Strong, durable PU/TPU (Elastollan) outsole


What is the life span of an industrial shoe?

On average, you could expect a safety shoe to last at

least one year in normal factory conditions and at least

six months in rugged conditions such as a mine or

construction site, although the actual life span of a shoe

would obviously be affected by the quality of the shoe

and how it was being worn. To maximize the life span,

it is important to make sure that the type of shoe sole is

appropriate to the working conditions. There is no one

type of safety shoe that is appropriate for all conditions.

Are safety shoes with polyurethane outsoles safe to

use?

Polyurethane is safe to use in safety shoes and it offers

signifi cant advantages over rubber compounds, since

it has a lower density and is simpler and cheaper to

process. Moreover, it is always important to make

sure that the shoe specifi cation matches the working

conditions. If a shoe has the type of outsole that is

prone to cracking, for example, it will be hazardous to

the wearer since it may cause slipping and exposure to

chemicals. One point to remember with polyurethane

is that it will melt at high temperatures (PU M.P.120ºc),

which making it diffi cult for the wearer in, say, a fi re

situation to walk or run.

What is the difference between welt and direct

injection shoe construction?

In a shoe made using the welt method, the processed

outsole is cemented and then heavily stitched to the

leather uppers. This process makes the shoe doubly

durable for industrial purposes. Common welt methods

include the “Goodyear Welt” and the “Norwegian Welt”. In

the direct injection method, the leather upper of the shoe

is fi xed directly to the outsole by injecting rubber into the

outsole mold and allowing the leather to adhere to the

outsole as the rubber cools and hardens.

Are safety shoes certifi ed to international standards?

Although safety shoes are essentially made to universally-

recognized standards, there is no international certifi cation

system. Safety shoes are certifi ed by local

certifying bodies in each particular country

or region. In the EU, for example, the

relevant safety standard is

EN20344/20345.

A Few Safety Shoe FAQs


The many advantages offered by PU fashion and casual outsoles include:

• Light weight for better comfort

• Superior cushioning

• Strong durability

• Flexibility

• Superior fl exibility at low temperatures (down to -20ºc)

BASF is the leading supplier of PU to globally-branded casual shoe manufacturers. These

companies choose to work with BASF because of our reliability, product consistency and

most importantly, innovation.

In fashion and casual footwear, polyurethane offers

the dynamite combination of visual appeal and

sustained performance. PU outsoles have the light

weight and high-quality texture and fi nish required

for a fashion shoe, but they also outperform other

materials in durability and resistance to oil and

abrasion.

The Long Lasting Casual Sole

COMFORT

CRAFTSMANSHIP

LIGHTWEIGHT

PERFORMANCE

DURABILITY

INNOVATION


With our Asia Footwear Technical Center and PU system house in Nansha, China, BASF is

able to offer world-class levels of technical service and reliability to footwear manufacturers in

the Asia Pacifi c region.

With many branded, casual shoe manufacturers located within hours’ driving time of the

Nansha facility, BASF is the only trans-national PU company able to simultaneously produce,

test and develop PU products for footwear in the heart of this footwear manufacting region.

The Nansha facility is also the only one in the region capable of producing, developing and

testing Polyether-based (PEOL) and Polyester-based (PESOL) PU systems for footwear.

PEOL systems are extremely durable, showing zero degradation under the hydrolysis test,

which simulates long-term usage, and PESOL systems can achieve extremely high levels of

mechanical properties and performance.

Casual Single densityDual density

Sandals Ladies fashion Feel woodMidsole Outsole

Density kg/m3 450 – 650 380 – 450 850 – 1,100 350 – 450 330 – 530 420 – 600

Hardness Shore A 45 – 65 38 – 45 55 – 65 50 – 60 55 – 85 40 – 45 D

Base polymer PolyesterPolyether

PolyesterPolyether

PolyesterPolyether

PolyesterPolyether

PolyesterPolyether

PolyesterPolyether

Comfort Moulded Slab

Density kg/m3 300 – 350 140 – 250

Hardness Asker C 28 – 40 10 – 40

Tensile strength N/mm2 2.5 – 4.0 1.5 – 3.0

Compression set % <20 <20

Base polymer Polyether Polyether


Wearing the right sports shoe can mean more

than just winning or losing. It may be the difference

between enjoying the game or suffering a serious

injury or fall. Polyurethane is highly valued in the

sports shoe industry because of the ease with which

it can be molded, and it provides great cushioning,

durability and fl exibility at very little weight.

Polyurethane the Sporting Choice

BASF is working with international sports brands and research universities to improve the

properties of PU to offer the best performance and comfort. While weight reduction remains

important, it is no longer the primary focus in terms of sports shoe research. There is now a

strong emphasis on extending the sustainability of PU’s superior cushioning effect, which can

be crucial in preventing injuries when sports shoes are used over long periods.

BASF develops and produces PU for sports footwear at our Asia Footwear Technical

Center and PU system house in Nansha Guangdong, China. This brings us very close

to our customers in Asia Pacifi c and enables us to provide rapid, tailored solutions to all

requirements.


Sports Elastofl ite Midsole

Density kg/m3 ASTM D-297 250 – 280 330 – 380 350 – 380

Hardness Asker C ASTM D-2240 53 – 60 57 – 63 70 – 79

Hardness Shore A DIN 53505 40 – 43 43 – 47 50 – 54

Tensile strength N/mm2 ASTM D-412 3.0 – 3.3 4.0 – 4.5 3.6 – 3.9

Elongation at break % ASTM D-412 250 – 280 330 – 350 200 – 230

Propertise after hydrolysis at 70ºc, 168 hours, 100% RH

Hardness retention % ASTM D-297 >90 >90 >95

Tensile strength reten-tion % ASTM D-412 >90 >90 >95

Elongation at break % ASTM D-412 >300 >380 >250

Base polymer Polyester Polyester Polyether

Competent technicians also offer on-site

support whenever called for. The BASF

combination of entrepreneurial technical

service and short production lead times

assures our customers of the rapid

response times so critical when it comes to

raising productivity.

The most important part of a running

shoe is the midsole, a layer that provides

cushioning and stability between the

outsole and the shoe upper. It needs to

absorb shock, control motion and be both

fl exible and durable.

Interestingly, it is the midsole, rather than the outsole, that is generally the fi rst part of a running

shoe to wear out. You’ll know this is happening when the material at the midsole starts to

crease.

A brief guide to the form and function of the main types of sports shoe:

• A running shoe should provide excellent heel cushioning and shock absorption, a fl exible

forefoot and a distinct Achilles notch.

• A walking shoe should be more rigid than a running shoe, with a rounded sole so that

bodyweight can smoothly shift from heel to toes.

• While running and walking shoes are designed to assist movement forward and back,

cross-trainers and basketball, aerobics and tennis shoes are designed to control sideways

movements.


Polyurethane is so versatile that, with slight changes in its chemical properties, it can meet

these various needs. At our Nansha facility, BASF works closely with regional manufacturers

of children’s shoes to develop tailored PU solutions for a whole range of specifi c requirements

and applications.

Children’s feet grow and change very quickly, and

as they do so, their footwear needs also change.

Toddlers, for example, need shoes that are very

light, with smooth outsoles to reduce friction that

might cause them to trip or fall. Older children, on

the other hand, need shoes that cushion and grip as

they run about.

The Right Support for Little Feet


As a brief guide to children’s feet and the type of shoes they need, here are a few handy facts

from the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society:

• Babies and crawlers do not need shoes. They only need booties, warm, wide socks to keep

their feet warm, or pre-walking shoes that do not bind their feet.

• Flat outsoles make it easier for children to begin walking.

• Ideally, children aged 9 to 18 months need a high-top shoe that will stay on the foot better

than an Oxford or a low-top tennis shoe.

• The sole of a toddler’s shoe should be as smooth as the palm of your hand, to reduce

friction that could cause the child to trip or fall.

• Children’s feet grow in spurts, so they generally require new shoes every three to four

months.

• Older children can wear shoes with heels, but these should not be higher than 2.5cm, as

this can cause the foot to slide forward, cramping the toes against the front of the shoe.

• Because children’s feet perspire greatly, they should wear shoes with uppers made of

breathable material.

• Wearing inappropriate or poorly-fi tted shoes can cause problems for a growing child,

including ingrown toenails, hammer toes, calluses and bunions.


® = registered trademark of BASF

The information submitted in this publication is based on our current knowledge and experience. In view of the many factors that may affect processing and application, these data do not relieve processors from the responsibility of carrying out their own tests and experiments; neither do they imply and legally binding (assurance) of certain properties of suitability for a specifi c purpose. It is the responsibility of those to whom we supply our products to ensure that any proprietary rights and existing laws and legislation are observed.

BASF Regional Headquarters BASF East Asia Regional Headquarters Ltd42/F, Floor, Jardine House, No.1 Connaught Place, Central, Hong KongTel: +852 2731 0111 Fax: +852 2734 9636

Greater China Region BASF Polyurethanes (China) Co LtdNo.408, Huanshi Road South, Guangzhou Nansha Economic & Technical Development Zone, Guangdong, 511458, PR ChinaTel: +86-20 8498 2560 Fax: +86-20 8498 2561

BASF (China) Co Ltd Guangzhou BranchSuite 2801-2806, Dongshan Plaza, 69 Xian Lie Road Central, Guangzhou 510095, PR ChinaTel: +86-20 8713 6179 Fax: +86-20 8732 1203

BASF Polyurethanes (Taiwan) Co LtdNo.11 Jen Cheng Road, Hsinchu Industrial Park, Hsinchu County, Taiwan, R.O.CTel: +886-3 598 2525 Fax: +886-3 598 2521

Asia Pacifi c Region BASF Polyurethanes India LtdThane Belapur Road, Turbhe, Navi Mumbai, 400705, India Tel : +91-22 6791 7420 Fax : +91-22 6791 7200

17-18, Kailash Enclave Illrd Floor, Lala Lajpat Rai Road, New Delhi, 110048, IndiaTel : +011 4159 6424 Fax : +011 4159 6496

PT BASF IndonesiaPlaza GRI, 10th & 11th Floor, JI. HR Rasuna Said Bl. X2/1, Jakarta, 12950, IndonesiaTel: +62-21 526 2481 Fax: +62-21 526 2533

BASF Chemicals & Polymers Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd46-A, Block-6, P.E.C.H.S., Karachi, 75400, PakistanTel: +92-21 431 4084 Fax: +92-21 431 4085

BASF Polyurethanes (Thailand) Ltd308/1 Moo 4 Soi 5, Bangpoo Industrial Estate, Sukhumvit Road, Preakasa, Muang, Samutprakarn, 10280, Thailand Tel: +66 2324 0518 Fax: +66 2324 0290

BASF Singapore Pte Ltd HCMC Representative Offi ceSaigon Trade Center, #1701-1711, 37 Ton Duc Thang Street, Dist. 1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: +84-8 824 3833 Fax: +84-8 824 3832

Choosing the Right ShoeMany of our direct customers are experts in shoe design, costing

and production. However, like all shoe-wearers, we often need to be

reminded that choosing the right shoe is not simply a matter of picking

the right color or brand.

You and your children may appreciate these few handy tips, developed

by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, on choosing

footwear that’s right for you:

• Try on new shoes towards the end of the day. The feet normally swell

and become larger as the day progresses.

• Have both feet measured every time you buy shoes. The foot size

increases as the children get older.

• Shoes should be fi tted carefully to the heel as well as the toes.

• Try on both shoes.

• There should be one fi nger’s width of space between the end of your

longest toe and the end of the shoe.

• Fit new shoes on the largest foot. Most children have one foot larger

than the other.

• Walk around in the shoes to make sure they fi t well and feel

comfortable.

• Sizes vary among shoe brands and styles. Judge a shoe by how it fi ts

on the foot, not by the marked size.

• When the shoe is on the foot, ther toes should able to wiggle freely.

• If the shoes feel too tight, don’t buy them. There is no such thing as a

“break-in period”.

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