BASF Polyurethanes

Your 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

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BASF Polyurethanes Worldwide Network Map

Regional Business Unit NAFTA

Regional Business Unit Europe

Regional Business Unit Asia

Gteborg, Sweden
Blackie, Canada
Minneapolis, United States
Carrollton, United States
Orange, United States

Lemfrde, Germany
Alfreton, United Kingdom
Schwarzheide,
Germany
Brussels, Belgium
Toronto, Canada
Nishnekamsk, Russian
Solymar, Hungary
Paris, France
Villanova dAsti
Istanbul, Turkey
Zingonia, Italia
Rubi, Spain
Wyandotte, Livonia, United States
Iran
Clemson, United States

Geismar, United States

Houston, United States

Japan

Lahore

Karachi
Mexico City, Mexico

Ulsan
Yeosu
Seoul

Beijing

New Delhi
Dhaka

Shanghai
Guangzhou
Nansha

Mumbai
Bangkok
Colombo

Taiwan
Hong Kong

Philippines
Ho Chi Minh City

Kuala Lumpur
Singapore
Jakarta

BASF Polyurethane Headquarter

Regional Headquarter
Regional Technical Development Center
Basic Chemical Plant
System House
TPU Plant

Sao Paulo, Brazil

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Johannesburg, South Africa

Auckland
Melbourne

Asia Pacific Sales Offices

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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, flexibility, 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.

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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-Pacific, offering advanced, tailored solutions to any requirement.

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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 inflamed joints
improving the flexibility of the sole
BASF provides proven solutions to leading safety footwear manufacturers in Europe and Asia.
These all conform to the EUs EN20344/20345 safety standards.

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Safety
Density

Dual density
Midsole

Outsole

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

no cut growth

30,000 cycles

30,000 cycles

30,000 cycles

Flexural strength

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Single density

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Upper

Cushion Comfort, PU
foot bed

Flexible, non-woven insole

board with flex perforations
at the forepart

Lightweight, shock-absorbing PU midsole

Strong, durable PU/

TPU (Elastollan) outsole

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.

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A Few Safety Shoe FAQs

What is the life span of an industrial shoe?

What is the difference between welt and direct

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

injection shoe construction?

least one year in normal factory conditions and at least

In a shoe made using the welt method, the processed

six months in rugged conditions such as a mine or

outsole is cemented and then heavily stitched to the

construction site, although the actual life span of a shoe

leather uppers. This process makes the shoe doubly

would obviously be affected by the quality of the shoe

durable for industrial purposes. Common welt methods

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

include the Goodyear Welt and the Norwegian Welt. In

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

the direct injection method, the leather upper of the shoe

appropriate to the working conditions. There is no one

is fixed directly to the outsole by injecting rubber into the

type of safety shoe that is appropriate for all conditions.

outsole mold and allowing the leather to adhere to the

Are safety shoes with polyurethane outsoles safe to

outsole as the rubber cools and hardens.

use?

Are safety shoes certified to international standards?

Polyurethane is safe to use in safety shoes and it offers

Although safety shoes are essentially made to universally-

significant advantages over rubber compounds, since

recognized standards, there is no international certification

it has a lower density and is simpler and cheaper to

system. Safety shoes are certified by local

process. Moreover, it is always important to make

certifying bodies in each particular country

sure that the shoe specification matches the working

or region. In the EU, for example, the

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

relevant safety standard is

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

EN20344/20345.

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.120c),
which making it difficult for the wearer in, say, a fire
situation to walk or run.

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The Long Lasting Casual Sole

In fashion and casual footwear, polyurethane offers

the dynamite combination of visual appeal and
COMFORT

sustained performance. PU outsoles have the light

CRAFTSMANSHIP

weight and high-quality texture and finish required

LIGHTWEIGHT
PERFORMANCE
DURABILITY
INNOVATION

for a fashion shoe, but they also outperform other

materials in durability and resistance to oil and
abrasion.
The many advantages offered by PU fashion and casual outsoles include:
Light weight for better comfort
Superior cushioning
Strong durability
Flexibility
Superior flexibility at low temperatures (down to -20c)
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.

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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 Pacific 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
Density
Hardness

Single density

Outsole

Ladies fashion

Feel wood

380 450

850 1,100

350 450

330 530

420 600

Shore A

45 65

38 45

55 65

50 60

55 85

40 45 D

Polyester
Polyether

Polyester
Polyether

Polyester
Polyether

Polyester
Polyether

Polyester
Polyether

Polyester
Polyether

Moulded

Slab

300 350

140 250

kg/m

Hardness

Asker C

28 40

10 40

Tensile strength

N/mm

2.5 4.0

1.5 3.0

Compression set

<20

<20

Polyether

Polyether

Base polymer

Sandals

450 650

Comfort

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Midsole

kg/m3

Base polymer

Density

Dual density

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Polyurethane the Sporting Choice

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 flexibility at very little weight.
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 PUs 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 Pacific and enables us to provide rapid, tailored solutions to all
requirements.

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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.

Sports
Density

Elastoflite

Midsole

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/mm

ASTM D-412

3.0 3.3

4.0 4.5

3.6 3.9

ASTM D-412

250 280

330 350

200 230

Elongation at break

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

The most important part of a running

Hardness retention

ASTM D-297

>90

>90

>95

shoe is the midsole, a layer that provides

cushioning and stability between the

Tensile strength retention

ASTM D-412

>90

>90

>95

outsole and the shoe upper. It needs to

Elongation at break

ASTM D-412

>300

>380

>250

absorb shock, control motion and be both

Base polymer

Polyester

Polyester

Polyether

flexible and durable.

Interestingly, it is the midsole, rather than the outsole, that is generally the first part of a running
shoe to wear out. Youll 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 flexible
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.

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The Right Support for Little Feet

Childrens 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.
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 childrens shoes to develop tailored PU solutions for a whole range of specific requirements
and applications.

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As a brief guide to childrens 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 toddlers shoe should be as smooth as the palm of your hand, to reduce
friction that could cause the child to trip or fall.
Childrens 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 childrens feet perspire greatly, they should wear shoes with uppers made of
breathable material.
Wearing inappropriate or poorly-fitted shoes can cause problems for a growing child,
including ingrown toenails, hammer toes, calluses and bunions.

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Choosing the Right Shoe

BASF Regional Headquarters

BASF East Asia Regional Headquarters Ltd

42/F, Floor, Jardine House, No.1 Connaught Place, Central, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2731 0111 Fax: +852 2734 9636

Greater China Region

BASF Polyurethanes (China) Co Ltd

No.408, Huanshi Road South, Guangzhou Nansha Economic & Technical Development Zone,
Guangdong, 511458, PR China
Tel: +86-20 8498 2560 Fax: +86-20 8498 2561

Many 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.

BASF (China) Co Ltd Guangzhou Branch

Suite 2801-2806, Dongshan Plaza, 69 Xian Lie Road Central, Guangzhou 510095, PR China
Tel: +86-20 8713 6179 Fax: +86-20 8732 1203

You and your children may appreciate these few handy tips, developed
by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, on choosing

BASF Polyurethanes (Taiwan) Co Ltd

No.11 Jen Cheng Road, Hsinchu Industrial Park, Hsinchu County, Taiwan, R.O.C
Tel: +886-3 598 2525 Fax: +886-3 598 2521

footwear thats 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 fitted carefully to the heel as well as the toes.
Try on both shoes.
There should be one fingers 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 fit well and feel
comfortable.
Sizes vary among shoe brands and styles. Judge a shoe by how it fits

Asia Pacific Region

BASF Polyurethanes India Ltd

Thane 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, India
Tel : +011 4159 6424 Fax : +011 4159 6496
PT BASF Indonesia
Plaza GRI, 10th & 11th Floor, JI. HR Rasuna Said Bl. X2/1, Jakarta, 12950, Indonesia
Tel: +62-21 526 2481 Fax: +62-21 526 2533
BASF Chemicals & Polymers Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd
46-A, Block-6, P.E.C.H.S., Karachi, 75400, Pakistan
Tel: +92-21 431 4084 Fax: +92-21 431 4085
BASF Polyurethanes (Thailand) Ltd
308/1 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 Office
Saigon Trade Center, #1701-1711, 37 Ton Duc Thang Street, Dist. 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Tel: +84-8 824 3833 Fax: +84-8 824 3832

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, dont buy them. There is no such thing as a
break-in period.

= 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 specific 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.

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