Types of shoe soles and their characteristics
No shoe is complete without a sole. The sole of the shoe is the main pillar of the silicone jelly shoes. There are different types of soles, the most common sole in Iran is PU shoe sole.
which stands for Polyurethane. These materials are liquid and have two components called polyol and isocyanate, which react when combined and produce PU sole.
Features of PU sole: It has a low density that makes the shoe light. It has moderate wear and if polyol and isocyanate materials are combined properly, it will not fail in any way.
It has low frictional strength and can be both soft and hard. PU can have two colors in different densities and is mostly used in men’s shoes.
Features of the TPU sole: TPU is an elastomeric thermoplastic based on polyurethane, TPU is completely transparent, and one of the important properties of TPU is its excellent elasticity.
It has very little wear. It does not break in any way and has high friction power. Due to the weight, usually in the construction of this sole.
the bottom part of the sole is made of TPU and the top of it is made of PU, so that it is both soft and has high friction properties and at the same time it is light. They are usually used in specialized safety shoes.
Characteristics of rubber soles: Shoes with rubber soles are usually heavy but of high quality. These soles are usually used in military and mountaineering shoes. These soles are also used in safety shoes. It has high friction power. Its abrasion resistance is high.
Specifications of PVC sole: It is the cheapest and lightest PVC shoe sole and is prepared in the form of granules. It has low friction. It is produced in different soft and hard grades. It is fragile in low temperatures and winter areas. It is light, usually used in making slippers and sandals and cheap shoes.
EVA soles: These soles are very light.
They are in the form of granules. They are mostly used in comfortable shoes. Because they change shape at different temperatures, they are usually combined with rubber and TPU so that they do not change shape.
They slip in water environments, which is why they combine the lower part of the sole with rubber and the upper part with EVA. It stands for Ethylene Vinyl Acetate, which is a very elastic material.
Leather shoe soles:
The oldest and most authentic shoe soles are leather soles, which today are considered handicrafts. These soles are very high quality and hard, because they are completely natural and handmade.
These soles are usually used in handembroidered shoes. This sole is very strong in absorbing foot sweat and keeps feet cool in summer. But this shoe cannot be used in winter, because it absorbs all the water in the environment.