US 12,767,800 B1 · Dispersion strengthened shoe material

Abstract

The invention involves a system and method for constructing a material useful for the production of shoes and shoe components. The material is constructed as a dispersion strengthened material including at least two materials that are typically considered to be non-compatible with respect to each other, e.g. a thermoplastic and a rubber. The non-compatible materials are combined in a manner that disperses one of the materials, preferably the rubber, throughout a matrix of the thermoplastic. In this manner, the properties of both materials, the softness of the thermoplastic and the toughness and durability of the rubber, are utilized to provide the properties of the resulting dispersion strengthened material.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A dispersion strengthened material comprising:

a mixture of virgin EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) rubber pellets, which are free-flowing;
and a solid thermoplastic matrix material, which is chemically incompatible with the virgin EPDM rubber pellets;
and
optional additive materials;
wherein the virgin EPDM rubber pellets are dispersed throughout the solid thermoplastic matrix material;
and
wherein the solid thermoplastic matrix material is present in amount of about 5% to about 95% by weight of the mixture, and the virgin EPDM rubber pellets are present in an amount of about 5% to about 95% by weight of the mixture, wherein a combined amount of the solid thermoplastic matrix material and the virgin EPDM rubber pellets is 100% by weight of the mixture.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Dispersion strengthened shoe material

Life of this patent

Dispersion strengthened shoe material

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20