Thermoplastic Polyurethanes
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Enriching lives through innovation Thermoplastic Polyurethanes

Huntsman TPU Whether producing hard wearing, chemical resistant boots for the work place or soft, supportive shoes to encourage a child’s first steps, footwear manufacturers around the world generally want the same thing: innovative, cost-effective materials from a supplier that understands the market and can help them stay one step ahead of the competition. Pioneering new footwear developments At Huntsman we pride ourselves on making the procurement of footwear materials a painless process. Our dedicated footwear specialists were among the first to introduce polyurethanes to the footwear...

AVALON® TPU: The advantages Our dedicated range of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) materials for footwear is marketed under the trade name AVALON®. Suitable for use in top pieces for ladies fashion shoes, molded soles for casual footwear and specialist sports, hiking and safety shoe applications, AVALON® TPU is a premium material that can be used to create a variety of footwear components and is fully recyclable. Known for its high quality, durability and aesthetics, AVALON® TPU is manufactured at production facilities around the world and is available at different hardness levels ranging...

Safety shoes To protect working feet on construction sites and in factories, international regulations for safety shoes are extremely precise. TPUs can meet the high standards set for footwear in these specific environments, offering oil and solvent resistance as well as anti-slip properties and exceptional durability. AVALON® TPU outsoles can be combined with the full range of Huntsman microcellular midsole systems in a direct-molded process. This construction combines the outstanding wear and flex performance of a soft TPU for the outsole with the comfort and lightness of polyurethane for...

Sport shoes Fitness enthusiasts and professional athletes require footwear that provide protection and stabilization while enhancing their performance. Some of the world's best football boots demand the performance levels provided by AVALON® TPU. Improved abrasion grades for integral studs are also available to meet the most demanding environments. These are marketed under the AVALON® ABR range of TPUs. Transparent grades from the AVALON® TPU range bridge the gap between style and function, enabling manufacturers to create exciting designs that won't impede performance. Typical...

Casual shoes AVALON® TPUs have been used in the creation of casual shoes since the 1970s. Providing superior durability and excellent surface definition, they are a reliable alternative to rubber and PVC, enabling manufacturers to create footwear soles that are soft, flexible and tactile. Huntsman pioneered the development of plasticizer-free TPUs for the footwear industry – further increasing the breadth of design and color effects that are available to designers. Innovative products include the AVALON® Light range of lightweight solutions. These expanded TPU grades are easy to process and...

Fashion shoes For some people shoes are a practical necessity. For others they are desirable objects that help them make a bold fashion statement. Whatever the motivation, one thing is clear: in an industry where trends regularly fluctuate, footwear designers and manufacturers need access to materials that allow their creativity to flow when it comes to form, function, color, style and design detail. The production of fashion shoes requires the use of materials that look sharp and elegant but can also deliver the optimum balance between abrasion and slip resistance. Delivering comfort and...

Processing recommendations The following information describes the most ideal machine and screw configuration for a compact and expanded AVALON® TPU. It is not seen as a definitive guide as AVALON® grades can perform on a wide variety of shoe processing machines. We recommend that screw configurations of the polyamide type are not employed due to their inherent high shear characteristics. Long dwell times should be avoided. AVALON® grade range AVALON® soft grades AVALON® hard grades AVALON® Light Material type Machine type Conventional IM and carousel machines Conventional IM machines -...

Global offer with local support Technical support At Huntsman we build partnerships with our customers based on knowledge, trust and experience. This commitment means that comprehensive levels of technical support are always assured. With locations around the world, our international network of footwear specialists combine global reach with local knowledge – a powerful offering that can help solve complex challenges and ensure the very best levels of customer service. Development center To keep pace with modern formulating and manufacturing techniques, we make regular investments at our...

Overview for the AVALON® TPU range: Tensile strength Elongation @ break Tear strength Abrasion resistance Electrical resistance Typical physical properties amber amber transparent transparent amber semi highly amber transparent transparent semi opaque transparent End use applications Sport plates/studs Sport cleats Casual soles Safety Soes Thin soles Inserts/stabilizers AVALON® 90 A BR Hardness: Shore A Shore D 8

semi opaque transparent slight amber semi opaque transparent slight amber highly semi slight transparent transparent amber slight amber semi transparent semi slight transparent amber highly transparent slight amber

Huntsman Polyurethanes is committed to working closely with its customers and can offer a fast and flexible response to your needs. We offer direct links to our laboratories with full technical backup. Commercial support and dedicated customer service is available throughout Europe, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific and the Americas. AVALON® TPU for the footwear industry About Huntsman Huntsman is a global manufacturer and marketer of differentiated chemicals. Our operating companies manufacture products for a variety of global industries, including chemicals, plastics, automotive, aviation,...