Superior shock absorption
D3O, the British smart materials specialist, has developed a new range of cushioning materials specifically for footwear applications including athletic, industrial and military markets.
Improved impact protection in footwear such as the midsoles has been linked to a reduction in lower limb injuries and D3O’s new heel-to-toe shock absorption range helps to reduce the impact trauma that commonly causes knee and hip injuries.
D3O markets a unique patented technology used to manufacture high performance, lightweight, soft and flexible materials with high shock absorbing properties. The raw material is strain rate sensitive. In standard conditions its molecules flow freely, allowing the material to be soft and flexible, but on impact, lock together to dissipate the impact energy and reduce the transmitted force.
Chief product officer Tim Brown says: “We now have a whole suite of new footwear specific materials hitting the market that will allow footwear developers and brand managers to choose the right material for their shoes and boots whether that is in midsoles, insoles, inserts, or strobel boards. We are also using different base polymers with our unique patented technology which means we have extended the properties, performance and design options we can achieve.”
