A polyamide 12 from Degussa is ‘softened’ by incorporating a polyether

Degussa has supplied a ‘combination plastic’ for use in a new football boot from Adidas. The sole of the Predator is made from Vestamid E, a polyamide 12 that combines rigid and elastomeric elements by incorporating polyether into the matrix. This forms a block copolymer in which the amount of elasticity can be tailored depending on the exact application.

In these boots, the sole is made in two separate parts – the front and rear – which can have different rigidities. The material is also used on the outer heel cap. “Temperature has hardly any effect on its most important properties: toughness, impact resistance and rigidity,” says Michael Beyer, who leads the sports segment of Degussa’s high performance polymers business unit. A separate grade of Vestamid – this time a glass-filled, rigid material – is used for the studs.