A modern tech enterprise specializing in footwear and protective materials
31
2026
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03
The flourishing development of sole materials has been a dramatic process in the past 70 years or so
In the 1930s, the sole materials were only leather, wrinkled thin rubber sheets, and woodblocks.
1. In the 1930s, the sole materials were only leather, wrinkled thin rubber sheets, and woodblocks. We don't have to consider wooden boards as a formal material for making shoes, although there are wooden soled shoes - interestingly, wooden soled shoes bring people back to the World War II era when common materials were scarce.
2. In the 1940s, vulcanized rubber was produced, and post-war synthetic substances such as styrene polybutadiene rubber and resin rubber began to develop. Resin rubber is a very thin sheet material that is still popular for making palace women's shoes.
3. Polyurethane and thermoplastic substances such as polyvinyl chloride followed in the 1960s.
4. Thermoplastic rubber and thermoplastic polyurethane were put into use in the 1970s.
5. EVA was added in the 1980s.
6. Vulcanized rubber was produced in the 1990s. The first breakthrough in the development of sole materials was POE polyester synthetic rubber. Compared to leather, natural rubber is still a major feature of shoe sole materials, even if its quality is average. The most interesting thing is that the shoe sole materials that were first accepted by people - rubber and polyvinyl chloride - continue to dominate the market and seem to continue in this state for a period of time in the future. This is because they have a wide range of acceptability, price advantages compared to other materials, and both rubber and polyvinyl chloride have been constantly developing to meet modern needs such as lightweight and larger design space.
Entering the 21st century, innovation in shoe sole materials places greater emphasis on functional segmentation and technological integration. For example, by customizing polyurethane (PU) materials and using integrated injection molding technology, multifunctional shoe soles suitable for different scenarios have been developed. Meanwhile, modern sole technology is also combined with cultural design elements, showcasing a new trend in material development.
Rubber soles of all different varieties together account for about half of all soles in the world. All types of shoes produced from vulcanized rubber, especially lighter and micro honeycomb style shoes, have been proven to have versatility and acceptability, accounting for 50% of the total rubber content.
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