Plastics have revolutionised sports in recent years. From
tracks on which Olympic athletes pursue new records to shoes, clothing,
safety equipments (helmets, kneepads) and stadium construction (water
and drainage pipes, seats, roofing), modern sports rely on
plastics. Here are some examples application :
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Plastics in ballgames:
Plastics materials are used in almost all types of
ballgames. Thanks to plastics, football for instance has
become faster and more technical than ever before. The
newest ball production concept - called thermal bonding and
using a high-solid polyurethane layer on a seamless glued surface –
results is an excellent responsiveness and ball contact sensitivity, a
predictable trajectory, substantially reduced water uptake and maximum
abrasion resistance. |
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Plastics in sports footwear:
Running shoes that weigh just a few grams yet provide the
strength and suppleness that athletes demand as they power out of the
running blocks can make the difference
between victory and defeat. Plastics play an important role in today’s
sports shoe designs, whether the application is running, jumping or
hiking. Take hiking boots for example; the lining and tongue can be made
from a loosely woven polyester fabric that repels water and allows
moisture to rapidly evaporate from the boot’s exterior, keeping the
hiker’s feet dry in the wet and cool in the heat. For comfort and
support, the mid-sole can be made from ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA), which
provides lightweight cushioning. Polyester foam padding, on the other
hand, provides extra comfort on the insoles.
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Plastics in tennis: Today,
sports manufacturers use plastics to make tennis racquets that are light
and strong, with excellent shock-absorbing systems. Players now have
more powerful racquets with increased ease of manoeuvrability. In some
racquet models, the central longitudinal strings are lead through a
specially developed plastics core that is embedded in a plastics
composite, which reduces shock vibration by 45% when the ball hits the
racquet. This innovative technology allows tennis enthusiasts at all
levels to enjoy the benefits of plastics on their local courts.
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Plastics on water: The
mouldability of composite plastics enables sleek dynamic hulls to be
produced that are low in weight and high in strength. Power cruisers,
sailing yachts and almost every other vessel now has a hull, deck,
superstructure and even a mast made of composites. Today’s yachts use
advanced carbon fibre compounds that helps taking yacht racing to a new
level. This innovative plastics compounds has largely replaced
traditional materials building methods by providing greater flexibility,
superior performance and faster production speed.
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| Plastics and children: For
close to 50 years, the world's toymakers have been using plastics to
make some of the best known and most popular toys and children's
products. From bicycle helmets and flotation devices to kneecaps and
other protective sporting gear, plastics help keeping children safe
everyday. Plastics are one of the most thoroughly tested,
well-researched, durable, flexible and
cost-efficient materials on the market today. From bicycle
helmets and flotation devices to kneecaps and other protective sporting
gear, plastics help keeping children safe everyday. Plastic devices can
help reducing the risks of accidental
injuries. |
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