Leather Fiber Polymeric Composites for Anti-Slip Footwear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current materials and additives for footwear soles and other applications lack sufficient slip resistance, particularly in varying environmental conditions, leading to inadequate friction coefficients and increased accident risks.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating leather fibers into polymeric compositions such as polyester, polyolefin, polyamide, polyurethane, natural rubber, and synthetic elastomer to enhance the coefficient of friction, thereby improving anti-slip properties and providing a sustainable alternative to waste disposal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional materials and additives are used in footwear soles, then manufacturing cost and ease of manufacture are maintained, but slip resistance and friction coefficient are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining leather fibers with polymeric matrices (such as polyester, polyolefin, polyamide, polyurethane, natural rubber, or synthetic elastomer) to create a new material composition. This composite structure integrates the high friction coefficient property of leather fibers with the structural integrity and manufacturability of polymers, thereby improving slip resistance while maintaining ease of manufacture through conventional processing methods.
2Reliability
If leather fibers are incorporated into polymeric compositions, then coefficient of friction and anti-slip properties are significantly increased, but material complexity and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the compositional parameters of the polymeric material - specifically by incorporating leather fibers at optimized concentrations (typically 1-50% by weight) into the polymeric matrix. This parameter adjustment transforms the friction coefficient of the material without fundamentally changing the manufacturing process or material structure, thereby improving anti-slip properties while limiting complexity increases.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If waste leather materials are utilized, then environmental sustainability is improved, but material consistency and manufacturing precision may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by utilizing waste leather materials with varying properties in a controlled manner within the composite formulation. Rather than requiring uniform material properties throughout, the invention accepts local variations in leather fiber characteristics and compensates through the polymeric matrix structure and optimized fiber-to-polymer ratios, thereby achieving acceptable manufacturing precision while improving environmental sustainability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The use of leather fibers significantly increases the coefficient of friction in polymeric compositions, making them suitable for high-performance anti-slip applications, such as shoe soles, while also contributing to a more eco-sustainable leather processing chain by utilizing waste materials.
Implementation Method 1
the main design factor to obtain a good slip resistance is to achieve a high level of friction between the floor and the footwear itself: the greater the friction, the greater the slip resistance will be
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to the use of leather fibers as anti-slip agents in polymeric compositions comprising at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of polyester, polyolefin, polyamide, polyurethane, natural rubber, and synthetic elastomer, particularly for making soles for shoes.