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Boost (material)
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Boost is a trademarked polymer used by Adidas, in the form of pellets which are compressed and molded for various shoe models the company sells, especially the Ultraboost, NMD, Energy Boost, Pure Boost, and Adizero Adios Boost lines of sneakers. The pellets consist of proprietary thermoplastic urethane (TPU) that is formed into a small pill shape. Adidas collaborated with the German chemical company BASF to develop this material. Boost in itself is not a raw material and its characteristic bounciness is obtained by processing the thermoplastic urethane. This material is claimed to be more comfortable on the wearer's feet.[1][2][3][4]
History
[edit]Prior to its first integration into the Adidas running line in 2013, this material was developed by BASF chemists. BASF sold its product to Adidas who integrated it into the midsoles of certain lines of their shoes. This material, commonly known as "BOOST", is Adidas's preferred alternative to other industry standards such as EVA.[4][5]
References
[edit]- ^ "Here's why Boost technology makes Adidas the most comfortable sneakers ever". Business Insider. Retrieved 2018-03-04.
- ^ Ericson, Jake Woolf,Nils (2018-02-01). "How Adidas Boosted Its Way to the Top of the Sneaker Game". GQ. Retrieved 2018-07-03.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "What is Adidas BOOST technology?". www.jackrabbit.com. Retrieved 2018-03-04.
- ^ a b "An Exploratory Look at Adidas' Revolutionary BOOST Technology". Hypebeast. Retrieved 2018-03-04.
- ^ "What is Boost?". adidas Blog. February 2020. Archived from the original on 2019-07-16.
External links
[edit]Boost (material)
View on GrokipediaOverview
Definition and Composition
Boost is a trademarked expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (eTPU) foam, consisting of TPU pellets expanded to form closed-cell structures with air pockets.[5][6] The chemical composition of Boost is primarily thermoplastic polyurethane derived from BASF's Infinergy technology, involving polyether or polyester polyols reacted with diisocyanates and short-chain diols through polyaddition to create linear polyurethane chains with flexible and rigid segments.[7][8] In physical form, Boost consists of small, bouncy granules or pellets, typically 1-2 mm in diameter, colored white or translucent before final processing. It is not a raw material but a processed foam engineered for elasticity, with a density around 0.15-0.25 g/cm³.[2]Key Features
Boost material, known as expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (eTPU), is engineered to deliver a high energy return rate of up to 60%, allowing it to rebound the majority of impact energy back to the user during activity.[1][2] This superior rebound capability stems from its closed-cell structure, which efficiently stores and releases energy upon compression. Additionally, its lightweight nature arises from the air-filled cells in the expanded foam, resulting in a low density of approximately 0.15-0.25 g/cm³, which contributes to reduced overall weight in applications compared to denser traditional foams. The pellets have a bulk density of around 110 kg/m³.[9] A key distinguishing feature is its temperature insensitivity, maintaining consistent cushioning and energy return properties across a wide range from -20°C to over 40°C, in contrast to conventional foams that harden significantly in cold conditions.[1] This stability ensures reliable performance in varied environmental conditions without degradation. The material's bounciness was vividly demonstrated in a tennis-ball-sized prototype presented to Adidas by BASF in the early 2010s, highlighting its elastic potential during early collaboration stages.[3][2] Boost also exhibits exceptional durability, with the eTPU structure designed to withstand extensive use while preserving its functional attributes; testing shows strong recovery characteristics post-compression, supporting long-term energy return efficacy.[10] Additionally, Boost is fully recyclable, allowing for sustainable end-of-life processing.[2]History and Development
Origins at BASF
The development of what would become the Boost material originated at BASF in 2007, when the company invented Infinergy, recognized as the world's first expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (eTPU) foam designed for advanced cushioning applications.[11] This innovation built on expanded polyolefin foam technologies but adapted them specifically to TPU to achieve enhanced elasticity and durability while maintaining low weight.[12] BASF's research and development efforts centered at its Ludwigshafen headquarters in Germany, where scientists focused on novel foaming processes to produce microcellular structures within the TPU beads.[13] These processes involved impregnating TPU granules with physical blowing agents under pressure and heat, allowing controlled expansion to form closed-cell foams with high rebound resilience.[12] The resulting foams featured cell sizes ranging from 30 to 300 microns.[14] Initially, BASF explored applications for Infinergy in the automotive industry and packaging, leveraging its lightweight and resilient characteristics for components like vibration dampers and protective cushions.[15] However, the material's superior rebound—exhibiting significantly higher energy return compared to conventional particle foams—prompted a strategic shift toward sports applications, where such performance could enhance user comfort and efficiency.[12] This foundational work culminated in BASF filing patents for the eTPU technology in 2008, securing intellectual property for the bead foam production methods that enabled its unique microcellular architecture.[16]Adidas Collaboration and Launch
Around 2010, Adidas first encountered the expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) material developed by BASF during a presentation, where it was demonstrated via a bouncy demo ball composed of the tiny energy-return capsules to illustrate its potential for high rebound properties. This initial showcase intrigued Adidas developers, leading to further exploration despite initial doubts about its suitability for high-impact running applications.[3] BASF had previously collaborated with Puma starting in 2009 on similar foam technology, but that agreement ended in 2011. The partnership with Adidas formalized that same year when the company signed an exclusive licensing agreement with BASF, enabling customization of the material specifically for midsole applications in footwear through joint engineering efforts over the subsequent years. This collaboration focused on refining the pellets' density, stability, and energy return to meet performance demands, resulting in prototypes tested for running shoes.[17][3][18] Boost made its commercial debut in the Energy Boost running shoe, unveiled on February 13, 2013, and released on February 27, 2013, which featured a midsole formed by fusing thousands of the expanded TPU pellets to provide superior cushioning and energy return. This launch marked the first widespread use of the technology in consumer footwear and established "Boost" as Adidas's branded term for the innovation, with production scaling rapidly to support global distribution.[19][3] A pivotal expansion occurred in 2015 with the introduction of the Yeezy Boost line, developed in collaboration with Kanye West, which propelled the technology into lifestyle and fashion realms and dramatically increased its cultural and commercial popularity through limited releases. That same year, the Ultra Boost launched as a milestone, integrating the full-length Boost midsole with Adidas's Primeknit upper for enhanced fit and performance, further solidifying the material's role in premium running shoes.[20][21]Manufacturing Process
Production of Expanded TPU
The production of expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (eTPU), known commercially as Infinergy® by BASF, begins with the synthesis of the base TPU polymer. This involves the polyaddition reaction of diisocyanates, such as 4,4'-methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), with long-chain polyols (typically polyether or polyester types) and short-chain diols as chain extenders. The resulting block copolymer features alternating hard and soft segments, which are processed into thermoplastic granules, such as BASF's Elastollan® material, providing the elasticity and durability essential for subsequent foaming.[22] The expansion process transforms these TPU granules into lightweight foam beads through impregnation with a physical blowing agent, such as carbon dioxide (CO₂) or nitrogen (N₂), under controlled heat and pressure conditions. In a suspension or melt impregnation method, the granules absorb the inert gas, which is then activated to nucleate gas bubbles within the polymer matrix. This step occurs in an autoclave or similar equipment, where the TPU is saturated with the blowing agent at elevated pressures to ensure even distribution without premature expansion.[23][24] A critical subsequent step is the steam pre-expansion of the impregnated pellets, typically at temperatures between 120°C and 150°C, which causes the blowing agent to expand rapidly and increase the bead volume by 20 to 30 times while forming a predominantly closed-cell structure. This thermal activation softens the polymer, allowing the cells to grow uniformly and stabilize upon cooling, resulting in beads with low bulk densities around 100-150 kg/m³ and diameters of 5-10 mm. BASF's proprietary Infinergy process optimizes this expansion to achieve consistent cell distribution, minimizing irregularities that could lead to collapse under mechanical load during later applications.[25][12][23] Quality control is integral to the bead production, with expanded particles rigorously tested for key attributes such as density, cell uniformity, and energy rebound (typically exceeding 55% per ISO 8307 standards) before shipment to manufacturing partners like Adidas. These tests ensure the beads maintain structural integrity and performance consistency, with non-conforming lots discarded to uphold material reliability.[12][25]Molding and Integration
The molding process for Boost midsoles begins with loading pre-expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (eTPU) pellets, produced by BASF under the Infinergy brand, into specialized molds. These pellets are then fused together using steam chest molding, where steam is injected to heat and expand the particles, causing them to bond without requiring pre-formed shapes. This direct steam molding technique enables the creation of complex three-dimensional geometries tailored to specific shoe designs, enhancing customization and structural integrity.[25][26] Steam temperatures during fusion typically range from 110 to 180°C, with pressures of 0.6 to 2.2 bar, ensuring the pellets adhere firmly while preserving the material's energy-return properties. In some applications, adhesives such as hot-melt are applied to reinforce bonds within the midsole structure. A standard Boost midsole incorporates approximately 2,500 individual pellets, which are molded into a cohesive unit providing responsive cushioning.[25][27] Once molded, the Boost midsole is integrated into the final footwear assembly through bonding with the shoe upper and outsole. This is achieved via compression molding or direct application of pre-activated adhesives, often under controlled pressure to ensure a secure, durable connection without additional stitching. In automated facilities like Adidas's Speedfactory, robotic systems align and press the components together for precision.[26][28] Variations in the process include color infusion during molding, where pigments are added to the pellets prior to steaming, resulting in visually distinctive midsoles as seen in models like the Ultra Boost. This technique allows for aesthetic customization while maintaining the material's performance characteristics.[29]Properties and Performance
Mechanical Characteristics
Boost, an expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (eTPU) foam, demonstrates superior compression set performance, exhibiting less than 10% permanent deformation after repeated impacts under standard testing conditions equivalent to ASTM D395. This low compression set, specifically measured at under 6% for 50% strain over 22 hours at 23°C per DIN EN ISO 1856 (comparable to ASTM D395), ensures the material retains its shape and responsiveness even after prolonged use.[12] The material's energy return is approximately 75%, reflecting its efficiency in rebounding absorbed energy during compression, which is modeled aswith notably low hysteresis loss contributing to minimal energy dissipation as heat. Independent testing has confirmed energy return rates close to 80% for Boost foam, highlighting its advantage in dynamic loading scenarios like foot impacts. This high return stems from the foam's cellular structure, which allows for elastic recovery exceeding 55% rebound as per ISO 8307 ball rebound tests.[30][12] Boost's compressive modulus is approximately 0.4-0.7 MPa depending on density (200-300 kg/m³), striking a balance between softness for cushioning and sufficient support to prevent excessive deformation under load. This value, derived from compressive stress-strain behavior (e.g., approximately 0.4 MPa at low strains based on 40 kPa stress at 10% strain per ISO 844 for 200 kg/m³ density), aligns with broader thermoplastic polyurethane foam properties and enables effective energy management without compromising durability.[12] In impact testing, Boost provides effective shock absorption, reducing peak loads transmitted to the body during heel strikes. Furthermore, its fatigue resistance is exceptional due to the robust eTPU bead structure that resists degradation under repetitive stress, outperforming traditional EVA foams in long-term durability.[30]