EP3179878B1 - Schuhartikel mit schmutzabstossendem merkmal - Google Patents

Schuhartikel mit schmutzabstossendem merkmal Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3179878B1
EP3179878B1 EP15757639.8A EP15757639A EP3179878B1 EP 3179878 B1 EP3179878 B1 EP 3179878B1 EP 15757639 A EP15757639 A EP 15757639A EP 3179878 B1 EP3179878 B1 EP 3179878B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
outsole
surface element
footwear
dispersion
weight
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP15757639.8A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP3179878A1 (de
Inventor
Zachary C. Wright
Caleb W. Dyer
Jeremy D. Walker
Myron Maurer
Denis Schiller
Hossein A. Baghdadi
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Nike Innovate CV USA
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Nike Innovate CV USA
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Publication date
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Publication of EP3179878A1 publication Critical patent/EP3179878A1/de
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Publication of EP3179878B1 publication Critical patent/EP3179878B1/de
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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
    • A43B13/14—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form
    • A43B13/22—Soles made slip-preventing or wear-resisting, e.g. by impregnation or spreading a wear-resisting layer
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
    • A43B13/02—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the material
    • A43B13/026—Composites, e.g. carbon fibre or aramid fibre; the sole, one or more sole layers or sole part being made of a composite
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
    • A43B13/02—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the material
    • A43B13/04—Plastics, rubber or vulcanised fibre
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
    • A43B13/02—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the material
    • A43B13/12—Soles with several layers of different materials
    • A43B13/122—Soles with several layers of different materials characterised by the outsole or external layer
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
    • A43B13/14—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form
    • A43B13/22—Soles made slip-preventing or wear-resisting, e.g. by impregnation or spreading a wear-resisting layer
    • A43B13/223—Profiled soles

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to articles of footwear.
  • the present disclosure is directed to articles of footwear and components thereof, including outsoles, which are used in conditions conducive the accumulation of soil on the outsoles.
  • the outsoles often accumulate soil (e.g., inorganic materials such as mud, dirt, sand and gravel, organic material such as grass, turf, and other vegetation, and combinations of inorganic and organic materials) when the footwear is used on unpaved surfaces.
  • soil e.g., inorganic materials such as mud, dirt, sand and gravel, organic material such as grass, turf, and other vegetation, and combinations of inorganic and organic materials
  • the soil can accumulate in the tread pattern (when a tread pattern is present), around and between lugs (when lugs are present), or on shafts of the cleats, in the spaces surrounding the cleats, and in the interstitial regions between the cleats (when cleats are present).
  • the accumulations of soil can weigh down the footwear and interfere with the traction between the outsole and the ground.
  • Background art includes EP 2 292 113 that discloses a sole having a composite material produced from a fiber cloth and a plastic matrix, and WO 2007/090245 that discloses an outsole into which is formed a plurality of surface micro features such as nodules, ridges and grooves.
  • Other background documents include US 2004/020080 , US 2009/090031 and JP 2000-3085012 .
  • the dispersion is present in a surface element which defines at least a portion of a surface or side of the outsoles.
  • the surface element comprising the dispersion is present at or forms the whole of or part of an outer surface of the outsole.
  • the surface element comprising the dispersion defines at least a portion of an exterior surface of the article or a side of the article which is ground-facing.
  • preventing or reducing soil accumulation on the bottom of footwear can provide many benefits. Preventing or reducing soil accumulation on outsoles during wear on unpaved surfaces also can significantly affect the weight of accumulated soil adhered to the outsole during wear, reducing fatigue to the wearer caused by the adhered soil. Preventing or reducing soil accumulation on the outsole can help preserve traction during wear. For example, preventing or reducing soil accumulation on the outsole can improve or preserve the performance of traction elements present on the outsole during wear on unpaved surfaces. When worn while playing sports, preventing or reducing soil accumulation on outsoles can improve or preserve the ability of the wearer to manipulate sporting equipment such as a ball with the outsole of the article of footwear.
  • the surface element can have a water uptake rate of greater than 20 g/(m 2 ⁇ min 0.5 ), as characterized by the Water Uptake Rate Test with the Footwear Sampling Procedure, the Co-extruded Film Sampling Procedure, the Neat Film Sampling Procedure, or the Neat Material Sampling Procedure.
  • the surface element can have a water uptake rate of greater than 100 g/(m 2 ⁇ min 0.5 ).
  • the surface element can have both a water uptake capacity at 24 hours of greater than 40% by weight, and a water uptake rate of greater than 20 g/(m 2 ⁇ min 0.5 ).
  • the surface elements comprising a dispersion as described herein, when used on a ground-facing surface or side of an outsole, can be effective to reduce soil adherence to the outsole and to articles of footwear comprising the outsole.
  • the surface element can exhibit a relative impact energy of from 0 to 0.6, as characterized by the Impact Energy Test using the Footwear Sampling Procedure.
  • the surface element can exhibit a relative impact energy of from 0.2 to 0.4, as characterized by the Impact Energy Test using the Footwear Sampling Procedure.
  • the dispersion material of the surface elements of the present disclosure can also or alternatively be characterized based on the type of materials which it includes.
  • the first polymeric phase of the dispersion can comprise or consist essentially of a hydrogel material.
  • the hydrogel material can be a thermoplastic hydrogel material.
  • the first polymeric phase of the dispersion can comprise or consist essentially of one or more polymers selected from a polyurethane, a polyamide homopolymer, a polyamide copolymer, and combinations thereof.
  • the polyamide copolymer can comprise or consist essentially of a polyamide block copolymer.
  • the outsoles of the present disclosure can also or alternatively be characterized based on their structure such as, for example, the thickness of the surface element on the ground-facing outsole surface, how the surface element is arranged on the outsole, whether or not traction elements are present, whether or not the surface element is affixed to an outsole backing plate, and the like.
  • the outsole can be an outsole having the surface element present on at least 80% of the ground-facing surface of the outsole.
  • the surface element of the outsole can have a dry-state thickness ranging from 0.1 millimeters to 2 millimeters.
  • the outsole can comprises one or more traction elements present on the first surface of the outsole.
  • the outsole can further comprise an outsole backing member.
  • the outsole backing member can form at least a portion of or be secured to the outsole, wherein the surface element is secured to the outsole backing member such that the surface element defines the at least a portion of the first surface of the outsole.
  • the present disclosure is directed to an article of footwear comprising an outsole as disclosed herein.
  • the article of footwear can be an article comprising an outsole and an upper, wherein the outsole has a first, ground-facing surface and a second surface opposing the first surface, wherein the upper is secured to the second surface of the outsole, wherein a surface element comprising a dispersion defines at least a portion of the ground-facing first surface of the outsole.
  • the surface element can be a surface element as described above, e.g., with respect to the first aspect of the disclosure.
  • the dispersion can be dispersion as described above, e.g., with respect to the first aspect of the disclosure.
  • the present disclosure is directed to a method of manufacturing an article of footwear, e.g. an article of footwear of the second aspect.
  • the method comprises the steps of providing an outsole as disclosed herein, e.g. with respect to the first aspect of the disclosure, providing an upper for an article of footwear, and securing the outsole and the upper to each other such that a surface element comprising a dispersion defines at least a portion of a ground-facing surface of the outsole.
  • the present disclosure is directed to use of a surface element compositionally comprising a dispersion to prevent or reduce soil accumulation on an outsole or an article of footwear.
  • the use involves use of the surface element to prevent or reduce soil accumulation on an outsole or an article of footwear on a first surface of outsole, which first surface comprises the surface element, by providing the surface element on at least a portion of the first surface of the outsole, wherein the outsole retains at least 10% less soil by weight as compared to a second outsole which is identical except that the first surface of the second outsole is substantially free of a surface element comprising a dispersion.
  • outsole is understood to refer to an outer portion of the sole of an article of footwear. This outer portion of an article having the outsole makes up at least a portion of the article which can contact ground during conventional use.
  • additional sole-type structures such as a midsole, a rigid plate, cushioning, etc., may or may not be present in the article of footwear.
  • the term "surface element” refers to an element formed of one or more materials, including a dispersion of a first polymeric phase and a second phase.
  • the surface element defines at least a portion of a surface or side of the outsole.
  • the surface element is present at or forms at least part of an outer surface or side of the outsole.
  • the surface element can form the bulk of the outsole (e.g., at least 50% by weight of the outsole comprises the surface element, or substantially all of the outsole is composed of the dispersion of the surface element).
  • the surface element can further comprise other components and/or compounds in addition to the dispersion.
  • the surface element can further comprise a water-permeable membrane.
  • the water-permeable membrane can form the outer surface or side of the surface element, with the dispersion disposed below the membrane (e.g., the dispersion can form a layer between the membrane and an outsole backing layer).
  • the ground-facing surface can be positioned toward the ground during conventional use but may not necessarily come into contact the ground.
  • the terminal ends of traction elements on the outsole may directly contact the ground, while portions of the outsole located between the traction elements do not.
  • the portions of the outsole located between the traction elements are considered to be ground-facing even though they may not directly contact the ground in all circumstances.
  • soil can include any of a variety of materials commonly present on a ground or playing surface and which might otherwise adhere to an outsole or exposed midsole of a footwear article.
  • Soil can include inorganic materials such as mud, sand, dirt, and gravel; organic matter such as grass, turf, leaves, other vegetation, and excrement; and combinations of inorganic and organic materials such as clay.
  • weight refers to a mass value, such as having the units of grams, kilograms, and the like.
  • numerical ranges by endpoints include the endpoints and all numbers within that numerical range.
  • a concentration ranging from 40% by weight to 60% by weight includes concentrations of 40% by weight, 60% by weight, and all water uptake capacities between 40% by weight and 60% by weight (e.g., 40.1%, 41%, 45%, 50%, 52.5%, 55%, 59%, etc).
  • the term “providing”, such as for “providing an outsole”, when recited in the claims, is not intended to require any particular delivery or receipt of the provided item. Rather, the term “providing” is merely used to recite items that will be referred to in subsequent elements of the claim(s), for purposes of clarity and ease of readability.
  • the article of footwear is designed use in outdoor sporting activities, such as global football/soccer, golf, American football, rugby, baseball, running, track and field, cycling (e.g., road cycling and mountain biking), and the like.
  • the article of footwear can optionally include traction elements (e.g., lugs, cleats, studs, and spikes) to provide traction on soft and slippery surfaces.
  • Cleats, studs and spikes are commonly included in footwear designed for use in sports such as global football/soccer, golf, American football, rugby, baseball, and the like, which are frequently played on unpaved surfaces. Lugs and/or exaggerated tread patterns are commonly included in footwear including boots design for use under rugged outdoor conditions, such as trail running, hiking, and military use.
  • FIGS. 1-4 illustrate an example article of footwear of the present disclosure, referred to as an article of footwear 100, and which is depicted as footwear for use in global football/soccer applications.
  • the footwear 100 includes an upper 110 and an outsole 112 as footwear article components, where outsole 112 includes a plurality of traction elements 114 (e.g., cleats) and a surface element 116 at its external or ground-facing side or surface.
  • traction elements 114 e.g., cleats
  • surface element 116 at its external or ground-facing side or surface.
  • traction elements e.g., cleats
  • the traction elements 114 may alternatively be arranged along the outsole 112 symmetrically or non-symmetrically between the medial side 132 and the lateral side 134, as desired. Moreover, one or more of the traction elements 114 may be arranged along a centerline of outsole 112 between the medial side 132 and the lateral side 134, such as a blade 114A, as desired to enhance or otherwise modify performance.
  • traction elements can also include one or more front-edge traction elements 114, such as one or more blades 114B, one or more fins 114C, and/or one or more cleats (not shown) operably secured to (e.g., integrally formed with) the backing plate 136 at a front-edge region between forefoot region 122 and cluster 147A.
  • the surface element 116 can optionally extend across the bottom surface 144 at this front-edge region while maintaining good traction performance.
  • the backing plate 136 may include receiving holes (e.g., threaded or snap-fit holes, not shown), and the traction elements 114 can be screwed or snapped into the receiving holes to secure the traction elements 114 to the backing plate 136 (e.g., for soft ground (SG) footwear).
  • receiving holes e.g., threaded or snap-fit holes, not shown
  • the traction elements 114 can be screwed or snapped into the receiving holes to secure the traction elements 114 to the backing plate 136 (e.g., for soft ground (SG) footwear).
  • the surface element 116 is present on the entire bottom surface 144 of the backing plate 136 between (and not including) the traction elements 114.
  • the surface element 116 can cover the bottom surface 144 at locations around the shaft 150 of each traction element 114, such that surface element 116 does not cover the outer side surface 152 or the terminal edge 154 of the traction element 114, other than optionally at a base region 158 of the shaft 150. This can preserve the integrity of the surface element 116 and preserve traction performance of the traction elements 114.
  • the surface element 116 does not cover or contact any portion of the outer side surface 152 of the shaft 150.
  • the base region 158 that the surface element 116 (in a dry state) covers and contacts the outer side surface 152 is less than 25%, less than 15%, or less than 10% of the length of the shaft 150, as an average distance measured from the bottom surface 144 at the traction element 114.
  • the surface element 116 is preferably a thin film to minimize or otherwise reduce its impact on the traction elements 114.
  • suitable average thicknesses for the surface element 116 in a dry state range from 0.025 millimeters to 5 millimeters, from 0.5 millimeters to 3 millimeters, from 0.25 millimeters to 1 millimeter, from 0.25 millimeters to 2 millimeters, from 0.25 millimeters to 5 millimeters, from 0.15 millimeters to 1 millimeter, from 0.15 millimeters to 1.5 millimeters, from 0.1 millimeters to 1.5 millimeters, from 0.1 millimeters to 2 millimeters, from 0.1 millimeters to 5 millimeters, from 0.1 millimeters to 1 millimeter, or from 0.1 millimeters to 0.5 millimeters.
  • the thicknesses for the surface element 116 are measured between the
  • the surface element 116 can also (or alternatively) be present on one or more regions of the traction elements 114. These aspects can be beneficial, for example, in applications where the traction element 114 has a central base with multiple shafts 150 that protrude from the periphery of the central base. In such aspects, the surface element 116 can be present on at least the central base of the traction element 114. Furthermore, for some applications, the surface element 116 may also cover the entirety of one or more of the traction elements 114 (e.g., on the shaft 150).
  • Presence of the surface element 116 on the ground-facing side of outsole 112 i.e., on bottom surface 144) allows the surface element 116 to come into contact with soil, including wet soil during use, which is believed to enhance the soil-shedding performance for the footwear 100, as explained below.
  • the surface element 116 can also optionally be present on one or more locations of the sidewall 146 of the backing plate 144.
  • the surface element 116 can compositionally include a dispersion that allows the surface element 116 to absorb or otherwise take up water.
  • the dispersion can include a crosslinked polymeric network that can quickly take up water from an external environment (e.g., from mud, wet grass, presoaking, and the like).
  • the total amount of water that the surface element 116 can take up depends on a variety of factors, such as its composition (e.g., its hydrophilicity), its cross-linking density, its thickness, and its interfacial bond to the backing plate 136.
  • its composition e.g., its hydrophilicity
  • its cross-linking density e.g., its thickness
  • its interfacial bond to the backing plate 136 e.g., its composition, its hydrophilicity), its cross-linking density, its thickness, and its interfacial bond to the backing plate 136.
  • the interfacial bond between the surface element 116 and the bottom surface 144 of the backing plate 136 can potentially restrict the swelling of the surface element 116 due to its relatively thin dimensions. Accordingly, as described below, the maximum water uptake and the maximum percent swell of the surface element 116 can differ between the surface element 116 in a neat state (isolated surface element by itself) and the surface element 116 as present on the backing plate 136.
  • the water uptake rate is transient and is preferably defined kinetically.
  • the three primary factors for water uptake rate for a given part geometry include time, thickness, and the exposed surface area available for water flux.
  • the weight of water taken up can be used as a metric of water uptake rate, but the water flux can also be accounted for by normalizing by the exposed surface area.
  • a thin rectangular portion of the surface element can be defined by 2xLxW, where L is the length of one side and W is the width. The value is doubled to account for the two major surfaces of the portion, but the prefactor can be eliminated when the portion has a non-absorbing, structural layer secured to one of the major surfaces (e.g., with an outsole backing plate).
  • the saturated-state thickness 164 of the surface element 116 preferably remains less than the length 156 of the traction element 114. This selection of the surface element 116 and its corresponding dry and saturated thicknesses ensures that the traction elements 114 can continue to provide ground-engaging traction during use of the footwear 100, even when the surface element 116 is in a fully swollen state.
  • the average clearance difference between the lengths 156 of the traction elements 114 and the saturated-state thickness 164 of the surface element 116 is desirably at least 8 millimeters.
  • the average clearance distance can be at least 9 millimeters, 10 millimeters, or more.
  • the compressed surface element 116 may also be capable of quickly re-absorbing water when the compression is released (e.g., liftoff from a foot strike during normal use).
  • the surface element 116 can dynamically expel and re-uptake water over successive foot strikes.
  • the surface element 116 can continue to prevent soil accumulation over extended periods of time (e.g., during an entire competitive match), particularly when there is ground water available for re-uptake.
  • FIGS. 6-9 illustrate an example method of using footwear 100 with a muddy or wet ground 166, which depict the believed mechanism for preventing soil accumulation on the outsole 112.
  • the soil of the ground 166 can accumulate on an outsole (e.g., between the traction elements) during normal athletic or casual use, in particular when the ground 166 is wet.
  • the soil is believed to accumulate on the outsole due to a combination of adhesion of the soil particles to the surface of the outsole and cohesion of the soil particles to each other.
  • the soil particles need to be subjected to stresses high enough to exceed their adhesive/cohesive activation energies. When this is achieved, the soil particles can then move or flow under the applied stresses, which dislodge or otherwise shed portions of the soil from the outsole.
  • footwear 100 can be used in a conventional manner on the ground 166 until the surface element 116 absorbs a sufficient amount of water from the ground 166 or wet materials to reach its pre-conditioned state.
  • the downward motion of the footwear 100 causes the traction element 114 to contact the ground 166.
  • the continued applied pressure of the foot strike can cause the traction element 114 to penetrate into the softer soil of the ground 166 until the surface 162 of the surface element 116 contacts the ground 166.
  • further applied pressure of the foot strike can press the surface element 116 into the ground 166, thereby at least partially compressing the surface element 116 under the applied pressure (illustrated by arrows 170).
  • this compression of the surface element 116 into the soil of the ground 166 typically compacts the soil, increasing the potential for the soil particles to adhere to outsole 112 and to cohesively adhere to each other (clumping together).
  • the compression of the surface element 116 may also expel at least a portion of its uptaken water into the soil of the ground 166 (illustrated by arrows 172). It is believed that as the water is expelled through the surface 162 of the surface element 116, the pressure of the expelled water can disrupt the adhesion of the soil to the surface 162 at this interface.
  • the water may also modify the rheology of the soil adjacent to the surface 162 (e.g., watering down the soil to a relatively muddier or wetter state). This is believed to essentially spread out the soil particles in the water carrier and weaken their cohesive forces (e.g., mechanical/ionic/hydrogen bonds).
  • cohesive forces e.g., mechanical/ionic/hydrogen bonds.
  • This cyclic compression and expansion from repeated, rapid, and/or forceful foot strikes during use of the footwear 100 can also mechanically disrupt the adhesion of any soil still adhered to the surface 162, despite the relatively small thickness of the surface element 116 in any of its various states of water saturation (e.g., partially to fully saturated).
  • the increased compliance is believed, under some conditions, to lead to inhomogeneous shear states in the soil when compressed in the normal or vertical direction, which can also lead to increased interfacial shear stresses and a decrease in soil accumulation.
  • the surface element 116 can swell during water re-uptake (and also during initial uptake) in a non-uniform manner.
  • the uptaken water may tend to travel in a path perpendicular to the surface 162, and so may not migrate substantially in a transverse direction generally in the plane of the surface element 116 once absorbed.
  • This uneven, perpendicular water uptake and relative lack of transverse water intra-film transport can form an irregular or rough texture or small ridges for the surface 162.
  • the presence of these small ridges on the irregular surface 162 from the non-uniform swelling are also believed to potentially further disrupt the adhesion of the soil at the surface 162, and thus may loosen the soil and further promote soil shedding.
  • the uneven, ridged surface 162 can also be seen in the photograph of FIG. 19 of an exemplary water-saturated surface element 116 according to the present disclosure.
  • the increased compliance of the surface element 116 may allow the surface element 116 to be more malleable and stretchable when swelled.
  • the outsole 112 and the surface element 116 are correspondingly flexed (e.g., inducing compression forces illustrated by arrows 170).
  • the increased elongation or stretchiness of the surface element 116 when partially or fully saturated with water can increase the extent that the surface element 116 stretches during this flexing, which can induce additional shear on any soil adhered to the surface 162.
  • a rolling ground strike creates a curved outsole 112 and a curved compressed surface element 116, which can cause water to be expelled therefrom and transverse film stretching forces being induced to pull apart and shed the soil.
  • the compression forces (illustrated by arrows 170) on the surface element 116, which can help to expel the water can be particularly strong at points of contact with the ground 166 and/or where the radius of curvature of the curved outsole 112/curved surface element 116 is relatively small or at its minimum.
  • the foregoing properties of the surface element 116 related to compression/expansion compliance and the elongation compliance are believed to be closely interrelated, and they can depend on the same surface element 116 properties (e.g., a hydrophilic film able to able to rapidly take up and expel relatively large amounts of water compared to the film size or thickness).
  • a distinction is in their mechanisms for preventing soil accumulation, for example surface adhesion disruption versus shear inducement.
  • the water re-uptake is believed to potentially act to quickly expand or swell the surface element 116 after being compressed to expel water. Rapid water uptake can provide a mechanism for replenishing the surface element 116 water content between foot strikes.
  • Rapid replenishment of the surface element 116 water content can restore the surface element 116 to its compliant state, returning it to a state where stretching and shearing forces can contribute to debris shedding.
  • replenishment of the surface element 116 water content can permit subsequent water expulsion to provide an additional mechanism for preventing soil accumulation (e.g., application of water pressure and modification of soil rheology).
  • the water absorption/expulsion cycle can provide a unique combination for preventing soil accumulation on the outsole 112 of the footwear 100.
  • the surface element 116 has also been found to be sufficiently durable for its intended use on the ground-contacting side of the outsole 112. Durability is based on the nature and strength of the interfacial bond of the surface element 116 to the bottom surface 144 of the backing plate 136, as well as the physical properties of the surface element 116 itself. For many examples, during the useful life of the surface element 116, the surface element 116 may not delaminate from the backing plate 136, and it can be substantially abrasion- and wear-resistant (e.g., maintaining its structural integrity without rupturing or tearing).
  • the useful life of the surface element 116 (and the outsole 112 and footwear 100 containing it) is at least 10 hours, 20 hours, 50 hours, 100 hours, 120 hours, or 150 hours of wear.
  • the useful life of the surface element 116 ranges from 20 hours to 120 hours. In other applications, the useful life of the surface element 116 ranges from 50 hours to 100 hours of wear.
  • the dry and wet states of the surface element 116 can allow the surface element 116 to dynamically adapt in durability to account for dry and wet surface play.
  • the surface element 116 when used on a dry ground 166, the surface element 116 can also be dry, which renders it stiffer and more wear resistant.
  • the surface element 116 when used on wet ground 166 or when wet material is present on a dry ground 166, the surface element 116 can quickly take up water to achieve a partially or fully saturated condition, which may be a swollen and/or compliant state.
  • the wet ground 166 imposes less wear on the swollen and compliant surface element 116 compared to dry ground 166.
  • the surface element 116 can be used in a variety of conditions, as desired. Nonetheless, the footwear 100 and the outsole 112 are particularly beneficial for use in wet environments, such as with muddy surfaces, grass surfaces, and the like.
  • the surface element 116 is illustrated above in FIGS. 1-4 as extending across the entire bottom surface 144 of the outsole 112 of the footwear 100, in alternative aspects, the surface element 116 can alternatively be present as one or more segments that are present at separate, discrete locations on the bottom surface 144 of the outsole 112. For instance, as shown in FIG.
  • the surface element 116 can alternatively be present as a first segment 116A secured to the bottom surface 144 at the forefoot region 122, such as in the interstitial region between the traction elements 114 of cluster 147A; a second segment 116B secured to the bottom surface 144 at the midfoot region 124, such as in the interstitial region between the traction elements 114 of cluster 147B; and/or a third segment 116C secured to the bottom surface 144 at the heal region 126, such as in the interstitial region between the traction elements 114 of cluster 147C.
  • the remaining regions of the bottom surface 144 can be free of the surface element 116.
  • the surface element 116 may include one or more segments secured to the bottom surface 144 at a region 178 between the clusters 147A and 147B, at a region 180 between the clusters 147B and 147C, or both.
  • the surface element 116 may include a first segment present on the bottom surface 144 that encompasses the locations of segment 116A, the region 178, and segment 116B as well at the location of region 178; and a second segment corresponding to the segment 116B (at the cluster 147C). As also shown in FIG.
  • the segments of the surface element 116 can optionally have surface dimensions that conform to the overall geometry of the backing plate 136, such as to conform to the contours of the ridges 148, the traction elements 114, and the like.
  • the bottom surface 144 may include a front edge region 182 between the front edge 128 and the cluster 147A (and optionally include a front portion of the cluster 147A) that is free of the surface element 116.
  • the surface element 116 may be lubricious when partially or fully saturated, having the surface element 116 present in the front edge region 182 of the bottom surface 144 can potentially impact traction and ball handling during sports.
  • soil accumulation is typically most prominent in the interstitial regions of the clusters 147A, 147B, and 147C, in comparison to the front edge 128.
  • the backing plate 136 can also include one or more recessed pockets, such as a pocket 188 shown in FIG. 12 , in which the surface element 116 or a sub-segment of the surface element 116 can reside. This can potentially increase the durability of the surface element 116 by protecting it from lateral delamination stresses.
  • the backing plate 136 can include a pocket 188 in the interstitial region of cluster 147C, where the sub-segment 116C of the surface element 116 can be secured to the bottom surface 144 within the pocket 188.
  • the dry-state thickness 160 of the surface element 116 can vary relative to a depth 190 of the pocket 188.
  • the depth 190 of the pocket 188 can range from 80% to 120%, from 90% to 110%, or from 95% to 105% of the dry-state thickness 160 of the surface element 116.
  • each pocket 188 may have the same depth 190 or the depths 190 may independently vary as desired.
  • the increased bonding of the surface element 116 due to the recessed pocket 188 can potentially reduce the swelling of the surface element 116 when partially or fully saturated.
  • a significant portion of the surface element 116 can be offset enough from the walls of the pocket 188 such that these interfacial bonds (relative to the dry-state thickness 160) will minimally affect the swelling and water-absorbing performance of the surface element 116.
  • FIG. 13 illustrates an alternative design for the engagement between the surface element 116 and the bottom surface 144.
  • the backing plate 136 can include one or more recessed indentations 192 having any suitable pattern(s), and in which portions of the surface element 116 extend into the indentations 192 to increase the interfacial bond surface area between the surface element 116 and the bottom surface 144 of the backing plate 136.
  • the indentations 192 can be present as one or more geometrically-shaped holes (e.g., circular, rectangular, or other geometric shapes) or irregularly-shaped holes in the backing plate 136, one or more trenches or channels extending partially or fully along the backing plate 136 (in the lateral, longitudinal, or diagonal directions), and the like.
  • the surface element 116 can have two (or more) thicknesses depending on whether a given portion of the surface element 116 extends into one of the indentations.
  • the dry-state thickness 160 of the surface element 116 refers to a portion of the surface element 116 (in a dry state) that does not extend into one of the indentations, such as at locations 194.
  • the dry-state thickness 160 shown in FIG. 13 is the same as the dry-state thickness 160 shown above in FIG. 5 .
  • Each indentation 192 may independently have a depth 196, which can range from 1% to 200%, from 25% to 150%, or from 50% to 100% of the dry-state thickness 160 of the surface element 116.
  • the dry-state thickness of the surface element 116 is the sum of the dry-state thickness 160 and the depth 196.
  • the amount that the surface element 116 swells depends on the initial, dry-state thickness of the surface element 116, and because the portions of the surface element 116 at the indentations 192 have greater dry-state thicknesses compared to the portions of the surface element 116 at locations 194, this can result in a non-planar swelling of the surface element 116, as depicted by broken lines 198.
  • the particular dimensions of the non-planar swelling can vary depending on the relative dry-state thicknesses of the surface element 116, the depth 196 of the indentations 192, the extent of saturation of the surface element 116, the particular composition of the surface element 116, and the like.
  • FIG. 14 illustrates a variation on the indentations 192 shown above in FIG. 13 .
  • the indentations 192 can also extend in-plane with the backing plate 136 to form locking members 200 (e.g., arms or flanged heads).
  • This design can also be produced with co-extrusion or injection molding techniques, and can further assist in mechanically locking the surface element 116 to the backing plate 136.
  • the outsole 112 with the surface element 116 is particularly suitable for use in global football/soccer applications.
  • the surface element 116 can also be used in combination with other types of footwear 100, such as for articles of footwear 100 for golf (shown in FIG. 15 ), for baseball (shown in FIG. 16 ), and for American football (shown in FIG. 17 ), each of which can include traction elements 114 as cleats, studs, and the like.
  • FIG. 15 illustrates an aspect in which the surface element 116 is positioned on one or more portions of the outsole 112 and/or cleats 114 in an article of golf footwear 100.
  • the surface element 116 is present on one or more locations of the ground-facing surface of the outsole 112 except the cleats 114 (e.g., a non-cleated surface, such as generally illustrated in FIG. 1 for the global football/soccer footwear 100).
  • the surface element 116 can be present as one or more segments 116D on one or more surfaces between tread patterns 202 on ground-facing surface of the outsole 112.
  • the surface element 116 can be incorporated onto one or more surfaces of the cleats 114.
  • the surface element 116 can also be on central region of cleat 114 between the shafts/spikes 150A, such as where each cleat 114 is screwed into or otherwise mounted to the outsole 112 backing plate 136, and has a generally flat central base region 158A (i.e., where the surface element 116 is located) and three shafts/spikes 150A arranged around the perimeter of the central region 158A.
  • the cleats 114 having surface element 116 can be separate components that can be secured to the outsole 112 (e.g., screwed or snapped in), where the outsole 112 itself can be free of the surface element 116.
  • the dispersion-covered cleats 114 can be provided as components for use with standard footwear not otherwise containing the 116 (e.g., golf shoes or otherwise).
  • the surface element 116 can be present as one or more segments 116D on one or more recessed surfaces 204 in the ground-facing surface of the outsole 112, which recessed surfaces 204 can include the cleats 114 therein (e.g., surface element 116 is located only in one or more of the recessed surfaces 204, but not substantially on the cleats).
  • FIG. 17 illustrates an aspect in which the surface element 116 is positioned on one or more portions of the outsole 112 in an article of American football footwear 100.
  • the surface element 116 is present on one or more locations of the ground-facing surface of the outsole 112 except the cleats 114 (e.g., a non-cleated surface, such as generally illustrated in FIG. 1 for the global football/soccer footwear 100).
  • the surface element 116 can be present as one or more segments 116D on one or more recessed surfaces 204 in the ground-facing surface of the outsole 112, which recessed surfaces 204 can include the cleats 114 therein (e.g., surface element 116 is located only in one or more of the recessed surfaces 204, but not substantially on the cleats).
  • FIG. 18 illustrates an aspect in which the surface element 116 is positioned on one or more portions of the outsole 112 in an article of hiking footwear 100 (e.g., hiking shoes or boots).
  • the traction elements 114 are in the form of lugs 114D which are integrally formed with and protrude from the outsole 112 bottom surface 144.
  • the surface element 116 is present on one or more locations of the bottom surface 144 of the outsole 112 except the lugs 114D.
  • the surface element 116 can be located on recessed surfaces 204 between adjacent lugs 114D (e.g., but not substantially on the 114D).
  • footwear 100 and outsole 112 have been made above in the context of footwear having traction elements (e.g., traction elements 114), such as cleats, studs, spikes, lugs, and the like.
  • footwear 100 having surface element 116 can also be designed for any suitable activity, such as running, track and field, rugby, cycling, tennis, and the like.
  • one or more segments of the surface element 116 are preferably located in interstitial regions between the traction elements, such as in the interstitial grooves of a running shoe tread pattern.
  • the surface elements of the present disclosure can compositionally include a dispersion that can allow the surface element to take up water.
  • take up refers to the drawing of a liquid (e.g., water) from an external source into the surface element, such as by absorption, adsorption, or both.
  • water refers to an aqueous liquid that can be pure water, or can be an aqueous carrier with lesser amounts of dissolved, dispersed or otherwise suspended materials (e.g., particulates, other liquids, and the like).
  • the ability of the surface element (e.g., the surface element 116) or the dispersion of the outsole surface element to uptake water and to correspondingly swell and increase in compliance can reflect its ability to prevent soil accumulation during use with an article of footwear (e.g., footwear 100).
  • the surface element takes up water (e.g., through absorption, adsorption, capillary action, etc).
  • the water taken up by the surface element transitions the surface element from a dry, relatively more rigid state to a partially or fully saturated state that is relatively more compliant.
  • the surface element can reduce in volume, such as to expel at least a portion of its water.
  • the surface element as secured to a footwear outsole has a water uptake capacity at 24 hours greater than 40% by weight, as characterized by the Water Uptake Capacity Test with the Footwear Sampling Procedure, each as described below. It is believed that if a particular surface element is not capable of taking up greater than 40% by weight in water within a 24-hour period, either due to its water uptake rate being too slow, or its ability to take up water is too low (e.g., due to its thinness, not enough dispersion material may be present, or the overall capacity of the material to take up water is too low), then the surface element will not be effective in preventing or reducing soil accumulation.
  • the surface element as secured to a footwear outsole has a water uptake capacity at 24 hours greater than 50% by weight, greater than 100% by weight, greater than 150% by weight, or greater than 200% by weight. In other aspects, the surface element as secured to a footwear outsole has a water uptake capacity at 24 hours less than 900% by weight, less than 750% by weight, less than 600% by weight, or less than 500% by weight.
  • the surface element as secured to a footwear outsole has a water uptake capacity at 24 hours ranging from 40% by weight to 900% by weight.
  • the surface element can have a water uptake capacity ranging from 100% by weight to 900% by weight, from 100% by weight to 750% by weight, from 100% by weight to 700% by weight, from 150% by weight to 600% by weight, from 200% by weight to 500% by weight, or from 300% by weight to 500% by weight.
  • samples can be taken from one or more of the forefoot region, the midfoot region, and/or the heel region; from each of the forefoot region, the midfoot region, and the heel region; from within one or more of the traction element clusters (between the traction elements) at the forefoot region, the midfoot region, and/or the heel region; from of the traction element clusters; on planar regions of the traction elements (for aspects in which the surface element is present on the traction elements), and combinations thereof.
  • the water uptake capacity of the surface element can alternatively be measured in a simulated environment with the surface element co-extruded with a backing substrate.
  • the backing substrate can be produced from any suitable material that is compatible with the surface element, such as a material used to form an outsole backing plate.
  • suitable water uptake capacities at 24 hours for the surface element as co-extruded with a backing substrate include those discussed above for the Water Uptake Capacity Test with the Footwear Sampling Procedure.
  • the interfacial bond formed between the surface element and the outsole substrate can restrict the extent that the surface element can take up water and/or swell.
  • the surface element as bonded to an outsole substrate or co-extruded backing substrate can potentially have a lower water uptake capacity and/or a lower swell capacity compared to the same surface element in a neat film form or a neat material form.
  • the water uptake capacity and the water uptake rate of the dispersion of the surface element can also be characterized based on the dispersion in neat form (i.e., an isolated dispersion that is not bonded to another material).
  • the dispersion in neat form can have a water uptake capacity at 24 hours greater than 40% by weight, greater than 100% by weight, greater than 300% by weight, or greater than 1000% by weight, as characterized by the Water Uptake Capacity Test with the Neat Film Sampling Procedure.
  • the dispersion in neat form can also have a water uptake capacity at 24 hours less than 900% by weight, less than 800% by weight, less than 700% by weight, less than 600% by weight, or less than 500% by weight.
  • the dispersion in neat form has a water uptake capacity at 24 hours ranging from 40% by weight to 900% by weight, from 150% by weight to 700% by weight, from 200% by weight to 600% by weight, or from 300% by weight to 500% by weight.
  • the surface element as secured to a footwear outsole has a water uptake rate greater than 20 grams/(meter 2 -minutes 1/2 ), greater than 100 grams/(meter 2 -minutes 1/2 ), greater than 200 grams/(meter 2 -minutes 1/2 ), greater than 400 grams/(meter 2 -minutes 1/2 ), or greater than 600 grams/(meter 2 -minutes 1/2 ).
  • Suitable water uptake rates for the surface element as secured to a co-extruded backing substrate as characterized by the Water Uptake Rate Test with the Co-extruded Film Sampling Procedure, and as provided in neat form, as characterized by the Water Uptake Rate Test with the Neat Film Sampling Procedure, each include those discussed above for the Water Uptake Rate Test with the Footwear Sampling Procedure.
  • the surface element as secured to a footwear outsole can also swell, increasing the surface element's thickness and/or volume, due to water uptake. This swelling of the surface element can be a convenient indicator showing that the surface element is taking up water, and can assist in rendering the surface element compliant.
  • the surface element as secured to a footwear outsole has an increase in surface element thickness (or swell thickness increase) at 1 hour of greater than 20% or greater than 50%, for example ranging from 30% to 350%, from 50% to 400%, from 50% to 300%, from 100% to 300%, from 100% to 200%, or from 150% to 250%, as characterized by the Swelling Capacity Test with the Footwear Sampling Procedure.
  • the surface element as secured to a footwear outsole has an increase in surface element thickness at 24 hours ranging from 45% to 400%, from 100% to 350%, or from 150% to 300%.
  • suitable increases in surface element thickness and volume at 1 hour and 24 hours for the surface element as secured to a co-extruded backing substrate, as characterized by the Swelling Capacity Test with the Co-extruded Film Sampling Procedure include those discussed above for the Swelling Capacity Test with the Footwear Sampling Procedure.
  • the dispersion in neat form can have an increase in surface element thickness at 1 hour ranging from 35% to 400%, from 50% to 300%, or from 100% to 200%, as characterized by the Swelling Capacity Test with the Neat Film Sampling Procedure.
  • the dispersion in neat form can have an increase in surface element thickness at 24 hours ranging 45% to 500%, from 100% to 400%, or from 150% to 300%.
  • the dispersion in neat form can have an increase in surface element volume at 1 hour ranging from 50% to 500%, from 75% to 400%, or from 100% to 300%.
  • the compliance of the surface element can be characterized by its storage modulus in the dry state (when equilibrated at 0% relative humidity (RH)), in a partially wet state (e.g., when equilibrated at 50% RH), and in a wet state (when equilibrated at 90% RH), and by reductions in its storage modulus between the dry and saturated states.
  • the surface element can have a reduction in storage modulus ( ⁇ E') from the dry state relative to the wet state.
  • ⁇ E' storage modulus
  • the reduction in glass transition temperature ( ⁇ T g ) can range from more than a 5°C difference to a 40°C difference, from more than a 6°C difference to a 50°C difference, form more than a 10°C difference to a 30°C difference, from more than a 30°C difference to a 45°C difference, or from a 15°C difference to a 20°C difference.
  • the dispersion can also exhibit a dry glass transition temperature ranging from -40°C to -80°C, or from -40°C to -60°C.
  • the reduction in glass transition temperature ( ⁇ T g ) can range from a 5°C difference to a 40°C difference, form a 10°C difference to a 30°C difference, or from a 15°C difference to a 20°C difference,.
  • the dispersion can also exhibit a dry glass transition temperature ranging from -40°C to -80°C, or from -40°C to -60°C.
  • the dispersion can define an exterior surface of the outsole.
  • a water-permeable membrane can define an exterior surface of the outsole, and can be in direct contact with the dispersion.
  • at least a portion of the exterior surface of the outsole is defined by a first side of the water-permeable membrane, with the dispersion below a second side of the water-permeable membrane and in direct contact with the second side.
  • the dispersion can form a layer of material between the second side of the membrane and a ground-facing surface of the outsole.
  • a tie layer as described above can be present between the dispersion and the ground-facing surface of the outsole.
  • a copolymer chain can form entangled regions and/or crystalline regions through non-covalent (non-bonding) interactions, such as, for example, an ionic bond, a polar bond, and/or a hydrogen bond.
  • non-bonding such as, for example, an ionic bond, a polar bond, and/or a hydrogen bond.
  • the crystalline regions create the physical crosslink between the copolymer chains whereas the non-bonding interactions form the crystalline domains.
  • These crosslinked polymers can exhibit sol-gel reversibility, allowing them to function as thermoplastic polymers, which can be advantageous for manufacturing and recyclability.
  • the multi-functional compound can be a polyol having three or more hydroxyl groups (e.g., glycerol, trimethylolpropane, 1,2,6-hexanetriol, 1,2,4-butanetriol, trimethylolethane) or a polyisocyanate having three or more isocyanate groups.
  • hydroxyl groups e.g., glycerol, trimethylolpropane, 1,2,6-hexanetriol, 1,2,4-butanetriol, trimethylolethane
  • a polyisocyanate having three or more isocyanate groups e.g., glycerol, trimethylolpropane, 1,2,6-hexanetriol, 1,2,4-butanetriol, trimethylolethane
  • the multi-functional compound can include, for example, carboxylic acids or activated forms thereof having three or more carboxyl groups (or activated forms thereof), polyamines having three or more amino groups, and polyols having three or more hydroxyl groups (e.g., glycerol, trimethylolpropane, 1,2,6-hexanetriol, 1,2,4-butanetriol, and trimethylolethane).
  • the multi-functional compound can be a compound having two ethylenically-unsaturated groups.
  • the second phase of the dispersion can comprise a hydrophilic bead, particle, or particulate having an average particle size ranging from about 10 micrometers to 1 millimeter, or about 100 micrometers to 500 micrometers, or about 10 micrometers to 100 micrometers.
  • the second phase can be present in the dispersion in a concentration in a range of from 5% by weight to 85% by weight, or from 5% by weight to 70% by weight, or from 10% by weight to 50% by weight, based on the total weight of the dispersion.
  • the second phase can be present in the dispersion in a concentration in a range of from 5% by weight to 40% by weight, based on an entire weight of the dispersion.
  • the second phase can be present in the dispersion in a concentration in a range of from 10% by weight to 20% weight, based on an entire weight of the dispersion.
  • the second phase can comprise a superabsorbent polymer.
  • the second phase can comprise cellulose, polyether (e.g., polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol), polyacrylic acid and derivatives and salts thereof, and combinations thereof.
  • second phases include "SEA-SLIDE” (Hydromer, Branchburg, NJ), “HYSORB” and “SALCARE SC91” (BASF, Wyandotte, MI), , “CREASORB” or “CREABLOCK SIS” (Evonik, Mobile, AL), “WASTE LOCK PAM” (M 2 Polymer Technologies, Inc., Dundee Township, IL), and "AQUA KEEP” (Sumitomo Seika, New York, NY).
  • each segment R 1 can include a linear aliphatic group, a branched aliphatic group, a cycloaliphatic group, or combinations thereof.
  • each segment R 1 can include a linear or branched C 3-20 alkylene group (e.g., C 4-15 alkylene or C 6-10 alkylene), one or more C 3-8 cycloalkylene groups (e.g., cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, or cyclooctyl), and combinations thereof.
  • suitable aliphatic diisocyanates for producing the polyurethane copolymer chains include hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), butylene diisocyanate (BDI), bisisocyanatocyclohexylmethane (HMDI), 2,2,4-trimethylhexamethylene diisocyanate (TMDI), bisisocyanatomethylcyclohexane, bisisocyanatomethyltricyclodecane, norbornane diisocyanate (NDI), cyclohexane diisocyanate (CHDI), 4,4'-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate (H12MDI), diisocyanatododecane, lysine diisocyanate, and combinations thereof.
  • HDI hexamethylene diisocyanate
  • IPDI isophorone diisocyanate
  • BDI butylene diisocyanate
  • Segment R 3 in Formula 2 can include a linear or branched C 2 -C 10 segment, based on the particular chain extender polyol used, and can be, for example, aliphatic, aromatic, or polyether.
  • suitable chain extender polyols for producing the polyurethane copolymer chains include ethylene glycol, lower oligomers of ethylene glycol (e.g., diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, and tetraethylene glycol), 1,2-propylene glycol, 1,3-propylene glycol, lower oligomers of propylene glycol (e.g., dipropylene glycol, tripropylene glycol, and tetrapropylene glycol), 1,4-butylene glycol, 2,3-butylene glycol, 1,6-hexanediol, 1,8-octanediol, neopentyl glycol, 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, 2-ethyl-1,6-hex
  • Segment R 2 in Formulas 1 and 2 can include polyether, polyester, polycarbonate, an aliphatic group, or an aromatic group. Segment R 2 can be present in an amount of from about 5 wt.% to about 85 wt.%, or from about 5 wt. % to about 70 wt.%, or from about 10 wt.% to about 50 wt.%, based on the total weight of the first polymeric phase.
  • C 1-7 alkyl refers to an alkyl group having a number of carbon atoms encompassing the entire range (i.e., 1 to 7 carbon atoms), as well as all subgroups (e.g., 1-6, 2-7, 1-5, 3-6, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 carbon atoms).
  • alkyl groups include, methyl, ethyl, n -propyl, isopropyl, n- butyl, sec -butyl (2-methylpropyl), t -butyl (1,1-dimethylethyl), 3,3-dimethylpentyl, and 2-ethylhexyl.
  • an alkyl group can be an unsubstituted alkyl group or a substituted alkyl group.
  • At least one R 2 segment includes polyester.
  • the polyester can be derived from the polyesterification of one or more dihydric alcohols (e.g., ethylene glycol, 1,3-propylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 2-methylpentanediol-1,5, diethylene glycol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,5-hexanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, cyclohexanedimethanol, and combinations thereof) with one or more dicarboxylic acids (e.g., adipic acid, succinic acid, sebacic acid, suberic acid, methyladipic acid, glutaric acid, pimelic acid, azelaic acid, thiodipropionic acid and citraconic acid and combinations thereof).
  • dihydric alcohols e.g., ethylene glycol, 1,3-propylene glycol, 1,
  • the polyester also can be derived from polycarbonate prepolymers, such as poly(hexamethylene carbonate) glycol, poly(propylene carbonate) glycol, poly(tetramethylene carbonate)glycol, and poly(nonanemethylene carbonate) glycol.
  • Suitable polyesters can include, for example, polyethylene adipate (PEA), poly(1,4-butylene adipate), poly(tetramethylene adipate), poly(hexamethylene adipate), polycaprolactone, polyhexamethylene carbonate, poly(propylene carbonate), poly(tetramethylene carbonate), poly(nonanemethylene carbonate), and combinations thereof.
  • At least one R 2 segment includes polycarbonate.
  • the polycarbonate can be derived from the reaction of one or more dihydric alcohols (e.g., ethylene glycol, 1,3-propylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 2-methylpentanediol-1,5, diethylene glycol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,5-hexanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, cyclohexanedimethanol, and combinations thereof) with ethylene carbonate.
  • dihydric alcohols e.g., ethylene glycol, 1,3-propylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 2-methylpentanediol-1,5, diethylene glycol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,5-hexanediol, 1,
  • At least one R 2 segment includes an aliphatic group.
  • the aliphatic group is linear and can include, for example, a C 1-20 alkylene chain or a C 1-20 alkenylene chain (e.g., methylene, ethylene, propylene, butylene, pentylene, hexylene, heptylene, octylene, nonylene, decylene, undecylene, dodecylene, tridecylene, ethenylene, propenylene, butenylene, pentenylene, hexenylene, heptenylene, octenylene, nonenylene, decenylene, undecenylene, dodecenylene, tridecenylene).
  • a C 1-20 alkylene chain or a C 1-20 alkenylene chain e.g., methylene, ethylene, propylene, butylene, pentylene, hexylene, hepty
  • At least one R 2 segment includes an aromatic group.
  • Suitable aromatic groups include, but are not limited to, phenyl, naphthyl, tetrahydronaphthyl, phenanthrenyl, biphenylenyl, indanyl, indenyl, anthracenyl, fluorenylpyridyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, thiazolyl, tetrazolyl, oxazolyl, isooxazolyl, thiadiazolyl, oxadiazolyl, furanyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, benzoxazolyl, benzimidazolyl, and benzothiazolyl.
  • the first polymeric phase include copolymer chains that are derivatives of polyurethane. These first polymeric phases can be crosslinked continuous phases. These continuous phases can be produced by polymerizing one or more isocyanates with one or more polyamino compounds, polysulfhydryl compounds, or combinations thereof, as shown in Formulas 3 and 4, below: wherein the variables are as described above. Additionally, the isocyanates can also be chain extended with one or more polyamino or polythiol chain extenders to bridge two or more isocyanates, such as previously described for the polyurethanes of Formula 2.
  • the polyurethane of the first polymeric phase can contain physical crosslinks, covalent crosslinks, or both.
  • the continuous phase can include a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU).
  • TPU thermoplastic polyurethane
  • Commercially available TPU polymers suitable for the present use include, but are not limited to, "DESMOPAN 8795” (Bayer, Whippany , NJ), "ESTANE” (Lubrizol, Countryside, IL), “ELASTOLLAN” (BASF, Wyandotte, MI), and the like.
  • the polyurethane contains chemical crosslinks.
  • Suitable crosslinkers for polyurethanes include polyols having three or more hydroxyl groups (e.g., glycerol, trimethylolpropane, 1,2,6-hexanetriol, 1,2,4-butanetriol, trimethylolethane,) and polyisocyanates having three or more isocyanate groups.
  • the polyurethane can be crosslinked by introducing unsaturation into the polymer backbone, and reacting the polymer backbone with a dialkenyl crosslinker under radical conditions (e.g., with peroxide, heat, or light). Such crosslinking reactions are well known to those skilled in the art.
  • the first polymeric phase comprises or consists essentially of a polyamide.
  • the polyamide can be formed from the polycondensation of polyamide prepolymers and a diol.
  • the polyamide of the first polymeric phase is derived from the polycondensation of lactams and/or amino acids, and includes an amide segment having amide linkages, as shown in Formula 5, below:
  • R 6 is derived from a lactam. In some cases, R 6 is derived from a C 3-20 lactam, or a C 4-15 lactam, or a C 6-12 lactam. For example, R 6 can be derived from caprolactam or laurolactam. In some cases, R 6 is derived from one or more amino acids. In various cases, R 6 is derived from a C 4-25 amino acid, or a C 5-20 amino acid, or a C 8-15 amino acid. For example, R 6 can be derived from 12-aminolauric acid or 11-aminoundecanoic acid.
  • the polyamide of the first polymeric phase is derived from the condensation of diamino compounds with dicarboxylic acids, or activated forms thereof, and includes an amide segment having a structure shown in Formula 6, below:
  • R 7 is derived from a diamino compound that includes an aliphatic group having C 4-15 carbon atoms, or C 5-10 carbon atoms, or C 6-9 carbon atoms.
  • the diamino compound includes an aromatic group, such as phenyl, naphthyl, xylyl, and tolyl.
  • Suitable diamino compounds include, but are not limited to, hexamethylene diamine (HMD), tetramethylene diamine, trimethyl hexamethylene diamine (TMD), m-xylylene diamine (MXD), and 1,5-pentamine diamine.
  • R 8 is derived from a dicarboxylic acid or activated form thereof, includes an aliphatic group having C 4-15 carbon atoms, or C 5-12 carbon atoms, or C 6-10 carbon atoms.
  • the dicarboxylic acid or activated form thereof includes an aromatic group, such as phenyl, naphthyl, xylyl, and tolyl.
  • Suitable carboxylic acids or activated forms thereof include, but are not limited to adipic acid, sebacic acid, terephthalic acid, and isophthalic acid.
  • each polyamide segment is independently derived from a polyamide prepolymer selected from the group consisting of 12-aminolauric acid, caprolactam, hexamethylene diamine and adipic acid.
  • the polyamide segments can also be chain extended with one or more polyamino, polycarboxyl (or derivatives thereof), or amino acid chain extenders, as previously described herein.
  • the chain extender can include a diol, dithiol, amino alcohol, aminoalkyl mercaptan, hydroxyalkyl mercaptan, a phosphite or a bisacyllactam compound (e.g., triphenylphosphite, N,N'-terephthaloyl bis-laurolactam, and diphenyl isophthalate).
  • Each component R 2 independently is a polyether, a polyester, a polycarbonate, an aliphatic group, or an aromatic group, as previously described herein.
  • component R 2 can have a weight average molecular weight of about 500 to about 10,000, or about 1000 to about 8000, or about 2000 to about 7000, or about 3000 to 6000. Further, component R 2 can be present in an amount of from about 5 wt.% to about 85 wt.%, or from about 5 wt. % to about 70 wt.%, or from about 10 wt.% to about 50 wt.%, based on the total weight of the first polymeric phase.
  • the polyamide of the first polymeric phase is physically crosslinked through, e.g., nonpolar or polar interactions between the polyamide groups on the polymers, and is a thermoplastic polyamide.
  • the polyamide of the first polymeric phase contains chemical crosslinks.
  • Suitable crosslinkers for polyamides include, for example, carboxylic acids or activated forms thereof having three or more carboxyl groups (or activated forms thereof), polyamines having three or more amino groups, and polyols having three or more hydroxyl groups (e.g., glycerol, trimethylolpropane, 1,2,6-hexanetriol, 1,2,4-butanetriol, trimethylolethane).
  • a commercially available thermoplastic polyamide suitable for the present use includes, but is not limited to, VESTAMID L1940 (Arkema, Bristol, PA).
  • the first polymeric phase can include a polyolefin.
  • the polyolefin can be formed through free radical polymerization by methods well known to those skilled in the art (e.g., using a peroxide initiator, heat, and/or light.
  • the polyolefin of the first polymeric phase can include a polyacrylamide, polyacrylate, polyacrylic acid and derivatives or salts thereof, polyacrylohalide, polyacrylonitrile, polyallyl alcohol, polyallyl ether, polyallyl ester, polyallyl carbonate, polyallyl carbamate, polyallyl sulfone, polyallyl sulfonic acid, polyallyl amine, polyallyl cyanide, polyvinyl ester, polyvinyl thioester, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, poly ⁇ -olefin, polystyrene, and combinations thereof.
  • the polyolefin can be derived from a monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylamide, acrylate, acrylic acid and derivatives or salts thereof, acrylohalide, acrylonitrile, allyl alcohol, allyl ether, allyl ester, allyl carbonate, allyl carbamate, allyl sulfone, allyl sulfonic acid, allyl amine, allyl cyanide, vinyl ester, vinyl thioester, vinyl pyrrolidone, ⁇ -olefin, styrene, and combinations thereof.
  • acrylamide acrylate
  • acrylic acid and derivatives or salts thereof acrylohalide
  • acrylonitrile allyl alcohol, allyl ether, allyl ester, allyl carbonate, allyl carbamate, allyl sulfone, allyl sulfonic acid, allyl amine, allyl cyanide, vinyl ester, vinyl thioest
  • the polyolefin is derived from an acrylamide.
  • Suitable acrylamides can include, but are not limited to, acrylamide, methacrylamide, ethylacrylamide, N,N-dimethylacrylamide, N-isopropylacrylamide, N-tert-butylacrylamide, N-isopropylmethacrylamide, N-phenylacrylamide, N-diphenylmethylacrylamide, N-(triphenylmethyl)methacrylamide, N-hydroxyethyl acrylamide, 3-acryloylamino-1-propanol, N-acryloylamido-ethoxyethanol, N-[tris(hydroxymethyl)methyl]acrylamide, N-(3-methoxypropyl)acrylamide, N-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]methacrylamide, (3-acrylamidopropyl)trimethylammonium chloride, diacetone acrylamide, 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulf
  • portions of the polyolefin of the first polymeric phase can include a polyolefin derived from an acrylate (e.g., acrylate and/or alkylacrylate).
  • Suitable acrylates include, but are not limited to, methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, propyl acrylate, isopropyl acrylate, n-butyl acrylate, isobutyl acrylate, tert-butyl acrylate, hexyl acrylate, isooctyl acrylate, isodecyl acrylate, octadecyl acrylate, lauryl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, 4-tert-butylcyclohexyl acrylate, 3,5,5-trimethylhexyl acrylate, isobornyl acrylate, vinyl methacrylate, allyl methacrylate, methyl methacrylate, ethyl
  • portions of the polyolefin of the first polymeric phase are derived from an acrylic acid or a derivative or salt thereof.
  • Suitable acrylic acids include acrylic acid, sodium acrylate, methacrylic acid, sodium methacrylate, 2-ethylacrylic acid, 2-propylacrylic acid, 2-bromoacrylic acid, 2-(bromomethyl)acrylic acid, 2-(trifluoromethyl)acrylic acid, acryloyl chloride, methacryloyl chloride, and 2-ethylacryloyl chloride.
  • portions of the polyolefin of the first polymeric phase can be derived from an allyl alcohol, allyl ether, allyl ester, allyl carbonate, allyl carbamate, allyl sulfone, allyl sulfonic acid, allyl amine, allyl cyanide, or a combination thereof.
  • the polyolefin segment can be derived from allyloxyethanol, 3-allyloxy-1,2-propanediol, allyl butyl ether, allyl benzyl ether, allyl ethyl ether, allyl phenyl ether, allyl 2,4,6-tribromophenyl ether, 2-allyloxybenzaldehyde, 2-allyloxy-2-hydroxybenzophenone, allyl acetate, allyl acetoacetate, allyl chloroacetate, allylcyanoacetate, allyl 2-bromo-2-methylpropionate, allyl butyrate, allyltrifluoroacetae, allyl methyl carbonate, tert-butyl N-allylcarbamate, allyl methyl sulfone, 3-allyloxy-2-hydroxy-1-propanesulfonic acid, 3-allyloxy-2-hydroxy-1-propanesulfonic acid sodium salt, allylamine
  • portions of the polyolefin of the first polymeric phase can include a polyolefin derived from a vinyl ester, vinyl thioester, vinyl pyrrolidone (e.g., N-vinyl pyrrolidone), and combinations thereof.
  • the vinyl monomer can be vinyl chloroformate, vinyl acetate, vinyl decanoate, vinyl neodecanoate, vinyl neononanoate, vinylpivalate, vinyl propionate, vinyl stearate, vinyl valerate, vinyl trifluoroacetate, vinyl benzoate, vinyl 4-tert-butylbenzoate, vinyl cinnamate, butyl vinyl ether, tert-butyl vinyl ether, cyclohexyl vinyl ether, dodecyl vinyl ether, ethylene glycol vinyl ether, 2-ethylhexyl vinyl ether, ethyl vinyl ether, ethyl-1-propenyl ether, isobutyl vinyl ether, propyl vinyl ether, 2-chloroethyl vinyl ether, 1,4-butanediol vinyl ether, 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol vinyl ether, di(ethylene glycol) vinyl ether, diethyl vinyl orthoformate,
  • portions of the polyolefin of the first polymeric phase can be derived from an alpha-olefin, such as 1-octene, 1-nonene, 1-decene, 1-undecene, 1-dodecene, 1-tridecene, 1-tetradecene, 1-pentadecene, 1-hexadecene, 1-pentadecene, 1-heptadecene, and 1-octadecene.
  • an alpha-olefin such as 1-octene, 1-nonene, 1-decene, 1-undecene, 1-dodecene, 1-tridecene, 1-tetradecene, 1-pentadecene, 1-hexadecene, 1-pentadecene, 1-heptadecene, and 1-octadecene.
  • portions of the polyolefin of the first polymeric phase can be derived from a styrene.
  • Suitable styrene monomers include styrene, ⁇ -bromostyrene, 2,4-diphenyl-4-methyl-1-pentene, ⁇ -methylstyrene, 4-acetoxystyrene, 4-benzhydrylstyrene, 4-tert-butylstyrene, 2,4-dimethylstyrene, 2,5-dimethylstyrene, 2-methylstyrene, 3-methylstyrene, 4-methylstyrene, 2-(trifluoromethyl)styrene, 3-(trifluoromethyl)styrene, 4-(trifluoromethyl)styrene, 2,4,6-trimethylstyrene, vinylbenzyl chloride, 4-benzyloxy-3-methoxystyrene, 4-tert-butoxystyrene
  • portions of the polyolefin of the first polymeric phase can be derived from a styrene.
  • Suitable styrene prepolymers include styrene, ⁇ -bromostyrene, 2,4-diphenyl-4-methyl-1-pentene, ⁇ -methylstyrene, 4-acetoxystyrene, 4-benzhydrylstyrene, 4-tert-butylstyrene, 2,4-dimethylstyrene, 2,5-dimethylstyrene, 2-methylstyrene, 3-methylstyrene, 4-methylstyrene, 2-(trifluoromethyl)styrene, 3-(trifluoromethyl)styrene, 4-(trifluoromethyl)styrene, 2,4,6-trimethylstyrene, vinylbenzyl chloride, 4-benzyloxy-3-methoxystyrene, 4-tert-butoxystyren
  • the polyolefin of the first polymeric phase can optionally include a chain extender, as previously described herein, having a molecular weight and molar ratio as previously described herein.
  • the chain extender includes electrophilic moieties that are capable of reacting with olefins. Examples of these chain extenders include divinyl compounds.
  • the polyolefin of the first polymeric phase can contain physical crosslinks, covalent crosslinks, or both.
  • the polyolefin of the first polymeric phase is physically crosslinked through, e.g., nonpolar or polar interactions between the polyolefin groups on the polymers, and is a thermoplastic polyolefin.
  • the polyolefin of the first polymeric phase is chemically crosslinked.
  • Suitable crosslinkers for polyolefins include compounds having at least two vinyl groups, such as polyacrylates, polyamides, polyvinyl compounds (e.g., ethylene glycol diacrylate, N,N- methylenebisacrylamide, divinylbenzyene, and combinations thereof).
  • Covalent crosslinking can occur by exposing the polyolefin prepolymers and crosslinkers to heat, light, and/or a radical initiator according to methods well known in the art.
  • Suitable commercially available polyolefins include, but are not limited to the “DOWLEX” LLPE, LDPE, and HDPE resins, "ENGAGE”, and “INFUSE” by Dow Chemical, Midland, MI, AND “VISTAAXX” by Exxon Mobil, Irving, TX.
  • the dispersion also can optionally include one or more additives, such as antioxidants, colorants, stabilizers, anti-static agents, wax packages, antiblocking agents, crystal nucleating agents, melt strength enhancers, anti-stain agents, or stain blockers, which are well known to those skilled in the art.
  • the additives can be incorporated in the dispersion in any combination or sequence (e.g., individually or together).
  • the additives are entrained in the dispersion by the polymer molecules of the continuous phase, the dispersant, or both, and leach out either slowly or not at all.
  • the additives are linked to the first polymeric phase and/or second phases via ionic/polar bonds.
  • the additives are covalently bonded to the first polymeric phase and/or second phases.
  • the surface element can define an exterior or ground-facing surface of the outsole.
  • a water-permeable membrane can define the exterior or ground-facing surface of the surface element.
  • at least a portion of the exterior surface of the outsole can be defined by a first side of the water-permeable membrane of the surface element.
  • the level of water permeability of the water-permeable membrane is preferably sufficient for water to rapidly partition from the exterior surface of the outsole (i.e., the first side of the membrane), across the second side of the membrane, and into the surface element.
  • the level of water permeability of the water-permeable membrane can be sufficient for a sample of the outsole obtained in accordance with the Footwear Sampling Procedure to have a water uptake capacity of greater than 40% by weight at 24 hours and/or at 1 hour.
  • the articles of footwear of the present disclosure can be manufactured using a variety of different footwear manufacturing techniques.
  • the surface element e.g., the surface element 116
  • the backing plate or substrate can be formed using methods such as injection molding, cast molding, thermoforming, vacuum forming, extrusion, spray coating, and the like.
  • the outsole is formed with the use of a co-extruded outsole plate.
  • the dispersion of the surface element can be co-extruded with a thermoplastic material used to form a thin backing substrate, where the resulting co-extrudate can be provided in a web or sheet form.
  • the web or sheet can then be placed in a vacuum thermoforming tool to produce the three-dimensional geometry of the outsole ground-facing side (referred to as an outsole face precursor).
  • the backing substrate provides a first function in this step by creating a structural support for the relatively thinner and weaker surface element.
  • the outsole face precursor can then be trimmed to form its perimeter and orifices to receive traction elements, thereby providing an outsole face.
  • the outsole face can then be placed in a mold cavity, where the surface element is preferably positioned away from the injection sprues.
  • Another thermoplastic material can then be back injected into the mold to bond to the backing substrate, opposite of the surface element.
  • the injected thermoplastic material can be the same or different from the material used to produce the backing substrate. Preferably, they include the same or similar materials (e.g., both being thermoplastic polyurethanes).
  • the backing substrate and the injected material in the mold form the outsole backing plate, which is secured to the surface element (during the co-extrusion step).
  • the outsole is formed with the use of injection molding.
  • a substrate material is preferably injected into a mold to produce the outsole backing plate.
  • the outsole backing plate can then be back injected with the dispersion material to produce the surface element bonded to the outsole backing plate.
  • the outsole after the outsole is manufactured, it can be directly or indirectly secured to a footwear upper to provide the article of footwear of the present disclosure.
  • surface element can function as a ground-facing surface of the outsole, which is positioned on the opposite side of the outsole backing plate from the upper.
  • the interfacial bond can restrict the extent that the surface element can take up water and/or swell.
  • various properties of the surface element can be characterized using samples prepared with the following sampling procedures:
  • This procedure can be used to obtain a sample of the surface element when the surface element is a component of a footwear outsole or article of footwear (e.g., bonded to an outsole substrate, such as an outsole backing plate).
  • An outsole sample including the surface element in a non-wet state e.g., at 25°C and 20% relative humidity
  • This process is performed by separating the outsole from an associated footwear upper, and removing any materials from the outsole top surface (e.g., corresponding to the top surface 142) that can uptake water and potentially skew the water uptake measurements of the surface element.
  • the outsole top surface can be skinned, abraded, scraped, or otherwise cleaned to remove any upper adhesives, yarns, fibers, foams, and the like that could potentially take up water themselves.
  • the resulting sample includes the surface element and any outsole substrate bonded to the surface element, and maintains the interfacial bond between the surface element and the associated outsole substrate.
  • this test can simulate how the surface element will perform as part of an article of footwear. Additionally, this sample is also useful in cases where the interfacial bond between the surface element and the outsole substrate is less defined, such as where the material of the surface element is highly diffused into the material of the outsole substrate (e.g., with a concentration gradient).
  • the sample is taken at a location along the outsole that provides a substantially constant surface element thickness for the surface element (within +/-10% of the average surface element thickness), such as in a forefoot region, midfoot region, or a heel region of the outsole, and has a surface area of 4 square centimeters (cm 2 ).
  • a substantially constant surface element thickness for the surface element within +/-10% of the average surface element thickness
  • the surface element is not present on the outsole in any segment having a 4 cm 2 surface area and/or where the surface element thickness is not substantially constant for a segment having a 4 cm 2 surface area
  • sample sizes with smaller cross-sectional surface areas can be taken and the area-specific measurements are adjusted accordingly.
  • This procedure can be used to obtain a sample of a surface element or a dispersion when the surface element is formed from a co-extruded material, or the dispersion is co-extruded onto a backing substrate.
  • the backing substrate is produced from a material that is compatible with the material of the surface element which directly contacts the backing substrate, such as a material used to form an outsole backing plate for the surface element.
  • samples taken from co-extruded films are suitable substitutes to samples taken from articles of footwear. Additionally, this sample is also useful in cases where the interfacial bond between the surface element and the backing substrate is less defined, such as where the material of the surface element is highly diffused into the material of the backing substrate (e.g., with a concentration gradient).
  • the film is co-extruded with the backing substrate as a web or sheet having a substantially constant film thickness for the film (within +/-10% of the average film thickness), and cooled to solidify the resulting web or sheet.
  • a sample of the surface element secured to the backing substrate is then cut from the resulting web or sheet, with a sample size surface area of 4 cm 2 , such that the surface element of the resulting sample remains secured to the backing substrate.
  • This procedure can be used to obtain a sample of surface element or dispersion when the surface element or dispersion is isolated in a neat film form (i.e., without any bonded substrate).
  • the material is extruded as a web or sheet having a substantially constant film thickness for the film (within +/-10% of the average film thickness), and cooled to solidify the resulting web or sheet.
  • a sample of the film having a surface area of 4 cm 2 is then cut from the resulting web or sheet.
  • the film can be cut from an outsole substrate of a footwear outsole, or from a backing substrate of a co-extruded sheet or web, thereby isolating the film. In either case, a sample of the film having a surface area of 4 cm 2 is then cut from the resulting isolated film.
  • This procedure can be used to obtain a sample of a dispersion material used to form the surface element.
  • the dispersion is provided in media form, such as flakes, granules, powders, pellets, and the like. If a source of the dispersion is not available in a neat form, the dispersion can be cut, scraped, or ground from an outsole substrate of a footwear outsole or from a backing substrate of a co-extruded sheet or web, thereby isolating the dispersion.
  • This test measures the water uptake capacity of the surface element or dispersion after a given soaking duration for a sample (e.g., taken with the above-discussed Footwear Sampling Procedure, Co-extruded Film Sampling Procedure, or the Neat Film Sampling Procedure).
  • the sample is initially dried at 60°C until there is no weight change for consecutive measurement intervals of at least 30 minutes apart (e.g., a 24-hour drying period at 60°C is typically a suitable duration).
  • the total weight of the dried sample ( Wt, sample,dry ) is then measured in grams.
  • the dried sample is then allowed to cool down to 25°C, and is fully immersed in a deionized water bath maintained at 25°C. After a given soaking duration, the sample is removed from the deionized water bath, blotted with a cloth to remove surface water, and the total weight of the soaked sample ( Wt , sample , wet ) is measured in grams.
  • any suitable soaking duration can be used, where a 24-hour soaking duration is believed to simulate saturation conditions for the surface element or dispersion of the present disclosure (i.e., the surface element or dispersion will be in its saturated state).
  • the expression “having a water uptake capacity at 5 minutes of! refers to a soaking duration of 5 minutes, having a water uptake capacity at 1 hour of! refers to a soaking duration of 1 hour, the expression “having a water uptake capacity at 24 hours of! refers to a soaking duration of 24 hours, and the like.
  • the total weight of a sample taken pursuant to the Footwear Sampling Procedure or the Co-extruded Film Sampling Procedure includes the weight of the surface element or dispersion as dried or soaked ( Wt, film,dry or Wt, film,wet ) and the weight of the outsole or backing substrate ( Wt, substrate ).
  • the weight of the substrate ( Wt, substrate ) needs to be subtracted from the sample measurements.
  • the weight of the substrate ( Wt, substrate ) is calculated using the sample surface area (e.g., 4 cm 2 ), an average measured thickness of the substrate in the sample, and the average density of the substrate material.
  • the weight of the substrate ( Wt, substrate ) is determined by taking a second sample using the same sampling procedure as used for the primary sample, and having the same dimensions (surface area and surface element/substrate thicknesses) as the primary sample.
  • the surface element or dispersion of the second sample is then cut apart from the substrate of the second sample with a blade to provide an isolated substrate.
  • the isolated substrate is then dried at 60°C for 24 hours, which can be performed at the same time as the primary sample drying.
  • the weight of the isolated substrate ( Wt, substrate ) is then measured in grams.
  • the resulting substrate weight ( Wt, substrate ) is then subtracted from the weights of the dried and soaked primary sample (Wt, sample,dry and Wt, sample,wet ) to provide the weights of the surface element or dispersion as dried and soaked ( Wt, film,dry and Wt, film,wet ), as depicted below by Equations 1 and 2:
  • a water uptake capacity of 50% at 1 hour means that the soaked surface element or dispersion weighed 1.5 times more than its dry-state weight after soaking for 1 hour, where there is a 1:2 weight ratio of water to surface element or dispersion material.
  • a water uptake capacity of 500% at 24 hours means that the soaked surface element or dispersion weighed 5 times more than its dry-state weight after soaking for 24 hours, where there is a 4:1 weight ratio of water to surface element or dispersion material.
  • This test measures the water uptake rate of the surface element or dispersion by modeling weight gain as a function of soaking time for a sample with a one-dimensional diffusion model.
  • the sample can be taken with any of the above-discussed Footwear Sampling Procedure, Co-extruded Film Sampling Procedure, or the Neat Film Sampling Procedure.
  • the sample is initially dried at 60°C until there is no weight change for consecutive measurement intervals of at least 30 minutes apart (a 24-hour drying period at 60°C is typically a suitable duration).
  • the total weight of the dried sample Wt, sample,dry ) is then measured in grams. Additionally, the average thickness of the surface element or dispersion for the dried sample is measured for use in calculating the water uptake rate, as explained below.
  • the dried sample is then allowed to cooled down to 25°C, and is fully immersed in a deionized water bath maintained at 25°C. Between soaking durations of 1, 2, 4, 9, 16, and 25 minutes, the sample is removed from the deionized water bath, blotted with a cloth to remove surface water, and the total weight of the soaked sample ( Wt , sample , wet , t ) is measured, where " t " refers to the particular soaking-duration data point (e.g., 1, 2, 4, 9, 16, or 25 minutes).
  • the exposed surface area of the soaked sample ( A t ) is also measured with calipers for determining the specific weight gain, as explained below.
  • the exposed surface area refers to the surface area that comes into contact with the deionized water when fully immersed in the bath.
  • the samples For samples obtained using the Footwear Sampling Procedure and the Co-extruded Film Sampling Procedure, the samples only have one major surface exposed. However, for samples obtained using the Neat Film Sampling Procedure, both major surfaces are exposed. For convenience, the surface areas of the peripheral edges of the sample are ignored due to their relatively small dimensions.
  • the measured sample is fully immersed back in the deionized water bath between measurements.
  • the 1, 2, 4, 9, 16, and 25 minute durations refer to cumulative soaking durations while the sample is fully immersed in the deionized water bath (i.e., after the first minute of soaking and first measurement, the sample is returned to the bath for one more minute of soaking before measuring at the 2-minute mark).
  • t refers to the particular soaking-duration data point (e.g., 1, 2, 4, 9, 16, or 25 minutes), as mentioned above.
  • the water uptake rate for the surface element or dispersion is then determined as the slope of the specific weight gains ( Ws, film,t ) versus the square root of time (in minutes), as determined by a least squares linear regression of the data points.
  • the plot of the specific weight gains ( Ws, film,t ) versus the square root of time (in minutes) provides an initial slope that is substantially linear (to provide the water uptake rate by the linear regression analysis).
  • the specific weight gains will slow down, indicating a reduction in the water uptake rate, until the saturated state is reached. This is believed to be due to the water being sufficiently diffused throughout the surface element or dispersion as the water uptake approaches saturation, and will vary depending on thickness.
  • the specific weight gain data points at 1, 2, 4, and 9 minutes are used in the linear regression analysis. In these cases, the data points at 16 and 25 minutes can begin to significantly diverge from the linear slope due to the water uptake approaching saturation, and are omitted from the linear regression analysis.
  • the specific weight gain data points at 1, 2, 4, 9, 16, and 25 minutes are used in the linear regression analysis.
  • the resulting slope defining the water uptake rate for the sampled surface element or dispersion has units of weight/(surface area-square root of time), such as grams/(meter 2 -minute 1/2 ).
  • some surface element or substrate surfaces can create surface phenomenon that quickly attract and retain water molecules (e.g., via surface hydrogen bonding or capillary action) without actually drawing the water molecules into the film or substrate.
  • samples of these surface elements or substrates can show rapid specific weight gains for the 1-minute sample, and possibly for the 2-minute sample. After that, however, further weight gain is negligible.
  • the linear regression analysis is only applied if the specific weight gain data points at 1, 2, and 4 minutes continue to show an increase in water uptake. If not, the water uptake rate under this test methodology is considered to be about zero grams/(meter 2 -minutes 1/2 ).
  • This test measures the swelling capacity of the surface element or dispersion in terms of increases in surface element thickness and surface element volume after a given soaking duration for a sample (e.g., taken with the above-discussed Footwear Sampling Procedure, Co-extruded Film Sampling Procedure, or the Neat Film Sampling Procedure).
  • the sample is initially dried at 60°C until there is no weight change for consecutive measurement intervals of at least 30 minutes apart (a 24-hour drying period is typically a suitable duration).
  • the surface element dimensions of the dried sample are then measured (e.g., thickness, length, and width for a rectangular sample; thickness and diameter for a circular sample, etc).
  • the dried sample is then fully immersed in a deionized water bath maintained at 25°C. After a given soaking duration, the sample is removed from the deionized water bath, blotted with a cloth to remove surface water, and the same surface element dimensions for the soaked sample are re-measured.
  • any suitable soaking duration can be used. Accordingly, as used herein, the expressions “having a swelling thickness (or volume) increase at 5 minutes of! refers to a soaking duration of 5 minutes, having a swelling thickness (or volume) increase at 1 hour of! refers to a test duration of 1 hour, the expression “having a swelling thickness (or volume) increase at 24 hours of! refers to a test duration of 24 hours, and the like.
  • the swelling of the surface element or dispersion is determined by (i) an increase in the surface element thickness between the dried and soaked surface element or dispersion, by (ii) an increase in the surface element volume between the dried and soaked surface element or dispersion, or (iii) both.
  • the increase in surface element thickness between the dried and soaked surface element is calculated by subtracting the measured surface element thickness of the initial dried surface element from the measured surface element thickness of the soaked surface element.
  • the increase in surface element volume between the dried and soaked surface element is calculated by subtracting the measured surface element volume of the initial dried surface element from the measured surface element volume of the soaked surface element.
  • the increases in the surface element thickness and volume can also be represented as percentage increases relative to the dry-surface element thickness or volume, respectively.
  • This test measures the ability of a surface element sample to shed soil under particular test conditions, where the sample is prepared using the Co-extruded Film Sampling Procedure or the Neat Film Sampling Procedure (to obtain a suitable sample surface area). Initially, the sample is fully immersed in a water bath maintained at 25°C for 24 hours), and then removed from the bath and blotted with a cloth to remove surface water.
  • the saturated test sample is then adhered to an aluminum block model outsole having a 25.4-millimeter thickness and a 76.2 millimeters x 76.2 millimeters surface area, using a room temperature-curing two-part epoxy adhesive commercially available under the tradename "LOCTITE 608" from Henkel, Düsseldorf, Germany.
  • the adhesive is used to maintain the planarity of the soaked sample, which can curl when saturated.
  • a bed of soil of about 75 millimeters in height is placed on top of a flat plastic plate.
  • the soil is commercially available under the tradename "TIMBERLINE TOP SOIL", model 50051562, from Timberline (subsidiary of Old Castle, Inc., Atlanta, GA) and was sifted with a square mesh with a pore dimension of 1.5 millimeter on each side.
  • the model outsole is then compressed into the soil under body weight and twisting motion until the cleats touch the plastic plate.
  • the weight is removed from the model outsole, and the model outsole is then twisted by 90 degrees in the plane of the plate and then lifted vertically. If no soil clogs the model outsole, no further testing is conducted.
  • the soil is knocked loose by dropping a 25.4-millimeter diameter steel ball weighing 67 grams onto the top side of the model outsole (opposite of the test sample and clogged soil).
  • the initial drop height is 152 millimeters (6 inches) above the model outsole. If the soil does not come loose, the ball drop height is increased by an additional 152 millimeters (6 inches) and dropped again. This procedure of increasing the ball drop height by 152 millimeter (6 inch) increments is repeated until the soil on the bottom of the outsole model is knocked loose.
  • a result of zero for the relative ball drop height (or relative impact energy) indicates that no soil clogged to the model outsole initially when the model outsole was compressed into the test soil (i.e., in which case the ball drop and control model outsole portions of the test are omitted).
  • This test measures the mud shearing ability of an article of footwear, and does not require any sampling procedure. Initially, the outsole of the footwear (while still attached to the upper) is fully immersed in a water bath maintained at 25°C for 20 minutes), and then removed from the bath and blotted with a cloth to remove surface water, and its initial weight is measured.
  • the footwear with the soaked outsole is then placed on a last (i.e., foot form) and fixed to a test apparatus commercially available under the tradename "INSTRON 8511" from Instron Corporation, Norwood, MA.
  • the footwear is then lowered so that the cleats are fully submerged in the soil, and then raised and lowered into the soil at an amplitude of 10 millimeters for ten repetitions at 1 Hertz. With the cleats submerged in the soil, the cleat is rotated 20 degrees in each direction ten times at 1 Hertz.
  • the soil is commercially available under the tradename "TIMBERLINE TOP SOIL", model 50051562, from Timberline (subsidiary of Old Castle, Inc., Atlanta, GA), and the moisture content is adjusted so that the shear strength value is between 3 and 4 kilograms/cm 2 on a shear vane tester available from Test Mark Industries (East furniture, OH.

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Claims (14)

  1. Laufsohle (112) für einen Schuhartikel (100), wobei die Laufsohle (112) aufweist:
    eine zum Boden weisende Oberfläche der Laufsohle (112) und eine zweite Oberfläche der Laufsohle, die der zum Boden weisenden Oberfläche gegenüberliegt, die Laufsohle (112), die konfiguriert ist, an einem Obermaterial (112) für einen Schuhartikel (100) befestigt zu werden, ein Oberflächenelement (116), das mindestens einen Abschnitt der zum Boden weisenden Oberfläche der Laufsohle (112) definiert, wobei das Oberflächenelement (116) zusammensetzungsmäßig eine Dispersion aufweist, die eine erste Polymerphase und eine zweite Phase in der Form von Teilchen aufweist, die in der ersten Polymerphase dispergiert sind, wobei die zweite Phase aus einem Material ausgebildet ist, das hydrophiler als die erste Polymerphase ist und eine größere Wasseraufnahmekapazität aufweist, wobei das Oberflächenelement (116) eine Wasseraufnahmekapazität in 24 Stunden von mehr als 40 Gewichts-% aufweist, die durch den Wasseraufnahmekapazitätstest mit dem Schuhstichprobenverfahren gekennzeichnet ist.
  2. Laufsohle (112) nach Anspruch 1, wobei das Oberflächenelement (116) eine Wasseraufnahmekapazität in 1 Stunde von 100 Gewichts-% bis 500 Gewichts-% aufweist.
  3. Laufsohle (112) nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei das Oberflächenelement (116) ferner eine wasserdurchlässige Membran aufweist und die wasserdurchlässige Membran des Oberflächenelements (116) mindestens einen Abschnitt der zum Boden weisenden Oberfläche der Laufsohle (112) bildet.
  4. Laufsohle (112) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, wobei die zweite Phase in der Dispersion beruhend auf dem Gesamtgewicht der Dispersion in einer Menge von etwa 5 Gewichts-% bis etwa 85 Gewichts-%, vorhanden ist.
  5. Laufsohle (112) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, wobei die Polymerphase zusammensetzungsmäßig ein vernetztes Polymer aufweist, und/oder wobei die Polymerphase ein thermoplastisches Polymer aufweist, und/oder wobei die Polymerphase ein Polymer aufweist, das aus der Gruppe ausgewählt ist, die aus Polyurethan, Polyamid, Polyolefin und Kombinationen davon besteht,
    oder zusammensetzungsmäßig ein thermoplastisches Polyurethan aufweist.
  6. Laufsohle (112) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, wobei die zweite Phase zusammensetzungsmäßig Zellulose, Polyether, Polyacrylsäure, ein Derivat von Polyacrylsäure oder irgendeine Kombination davon aufweist, wobei die zweite Phase zusammensetzungsmäßig mindestens ein Polymer aufweist, und/oder wobei die zweite Phase eine mittlere Teilchengröße aufweist, die von 10 Mikrometern bis zu 1 Millimeter reicht.
  7. Laufsohle (112) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 6, die ferner ein oder mehrere Bodenhaftungselemente (114) aufweist, die an der Laufsohle (112) vorhanden sind.
  8. Laufsohle (112) nach Anspruch 7, wobei an oder in direktem Kontakt mit mindestens einem Abschnitt des einen oder der mehreren Bodenhaftungselemente (114) das Oberflächenelement (116) nicht vorhanden ist.
  9. Schuhartikel (100), der die Laufsohle (112) nach Anspruch 1 bis 8 und ein Obermaterial (110) für einen Schuhartikel (100) aufweist, das an der zweiten Oberfläche der Laufsohle (112) befestigt ist.
  10. Verfahren zum Herstellen eines Schuhartikels (100), wobei das Verfahren aufweist:
    Bereitstellen einer Laufsohle (112), wobei die Laufsohle (112) eine zum Boden weisende Oberfläche und eine zweite Oberfläche aufweist, die der zum Boden weisenden Oberfläche gegenüberliegt, mit einem Oberflächenelement (116), das an mindestens einem Abschnitt der zum Boden weisenden Oberfläche der Laufsohle (112) vorhanden ist, wobei das Oberflächenelement (116) zusammensetzungsmäßig eine Dispersion aufweist, die eine erste Polymerphase und eine zweite Phase in der Form von Teilchen aufweist, die in der ersten Polymerphase dispergiert sind, wobei die zweite Phase aus einem Material ausgebildet ist, das hydrophiler als die erste Polymerphase ist und eine größere Wasseraufnahmekapazität aufweist, wobei das Oberflächenelement eine Wasseraufnahmekapazität in 24 Stunden von mehr als 40 Gewichts-% aufweist, die durch den Wasseraufnahmekapazitätstest mit dem Schuhstichprobenverfahren gekennzeichnet ist;
    Bereitstellen eines Obermaterials (110); und
    Befestigen des Obermaterials (110) an mindestens einen Abschnitt der zweiten Oberfläche der Laufsohle (112).
  11. Verfahren nach Anspruch 10, wobei der Schritt des Bereitstellens der Laufsohle (112) die Schaftanpassung des Oberflächenelements (116) an die zum Boden weisende Oberfläche der Laufsohle (112) aufweist.
  12. Verfahren nach Anspruch 10 oder 11, wobei der Schritt des Bereitstellens der Laufsohle (112) aufweist: das Thermoformen der Dispersion und eines zweiten Oberflächenelements (116), um das Oberflächenelement (116) zu bilden, und das Befestigen des Oberflächenelements (116) an der zum Boden weisenden Oberfläche der Laufsohle (112) oder Koextrudieren der Dispersion und eines zweiten thermoplastischen Materials, um das Oberflächenelement (116) zu bilden, und das Befestigen des Oberflächenelements (116) an der zum Boden weisenden Oberfläche der Laufsohle (112).
  13. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 10 bis 12, wobei das Verfahren ferner das Bilden eines Laufsohlenträgerelements (136) aus einem dritten Oberflächenelement und das Befestigen des Laufsohlenträgerelements (136) am Oberflächenelement (116) aufweist.
  14. Verwendung eines Oberflächenelements (116), das zusammensetzungsmäßig eine Dispersion aufweist, die eine erste Polymerphase und eine zweite Phase in der Form von Teilchen aufweist, die in der ersten Polymerphase dispergiert sind, wobei die zweite Phase aus einem Material ausgebildet ist, das hydrophiler als die erste Polymerphase ist und eine größere Wasseraufnahmekapazität aufweist, wobei das Oberflächenelement eine Wasseraufnahmekapazität in 24 Stunden von mehr als 40 Gewichts-% aufweist, die durch den Wasseraufnahmekapazitätstest mit dem Schuhstichprobenverfahren gekennzeichnet ist, um eine Schmutzansammlung an einer zum Boden weisenden Oberfläche einer Laufsohle (112) eines Schuhartikels (100) zu verhindern oder zu reduzieren, der ein Obermaterial (110) aufweist, das an der Laufsohle (112) befestigt ist, wobei die zum Boden weisende Oberfläche das Oberflächenelement (116), aufweist, wobei die Laufsohle (112) im Vergleich zu einer zweiten Laufsohle, die mit Ausnahme, dass die zum Boden weisende Oberfläche der zweiten Laufsohle frei vom Oberflächenelement (116) ist, mindestens 10 Gewichts-% weniger Schmutz festhält.
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