Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is widely used in footwear for shoe soles, soft components, midsoles, adhesive applications and footwear accessories. Different TPU grades provide the flexibility, abrasion resistance, strength and processing performance required for different shoe components.
Longyixing supplies TPU raw materials for footwear manufacturing, including injection-grade TPU, soft grade TPU, ETPU, adhesive TPU and TPU for footwear accessories. We can recommend suitable grades based on your application, hardness, processing method and performance requirements.
TPU Materials for Footwear Applications
| Application | Material Solution | Recommended Grades | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shoe Sole / Outsole | Injection-grade TPU for durable, flexible and abrasion-resistant shoe soles | LYX-LA90 / LYX-LA95 / LYX-1361 | View TPU for Outsole → |
| Soft Grade TPU | 55A–80A flexible TPU for soft footwear components | LYX-S55 / LYX-S65 / LYX-S70 / LYX-S80 | View Soft Grade TPU → |
| ETPU / Midsole | Foam-grade TPU for lightweight and resilient footwear midsoles | E211 / E532 | View ETPU → |
| Adhesive TPU | Hot melt and solvent adhesive TPU for shoe bonding, toe puff, counter and adhesive film | LYX-3295L / LYX-3232 / LYX-3231 | View Adhesive TPU → |
| Footwear Accessories | TPU for heels, logos, decorative parts and other injection-molded footwear components | LYX-LA90 / LYX-11160D | View Footwear Accessories TPU → |
TPU for Shoe Sole and Outsole
TPU is widely used as a shoe sole and outsole material because it combines abrasion resistance, flexibility and mechanical strength with efficient injection molding.
Our injection-grade TPU for shoe soles is suitable for sports shoes, casual footwear, work shoes and other applications requiring durable outsole components. Different hardness levels can be selected according to flexibility, support and design requirements.
Recommended Grades
LYX-LA90 / LYX-LA95 / LYX-1361
These grades are designed for injection-molded footwear applications where stable processing and good mechanical performance are required.
Soft Grade TPU for Footwear
For shoe components requiring greater flexibility and softness, soft grade TPU resin provides a combination of rubber-like flexibility, elasticity and thermoplastic processability.
Our soft TPU series covers approximately 55A–80A Shore hardness, allowing footwear manufacturers to select different hardness levels according to the required softness and flexibility.
Recommended Grades
LYX-S55 / LYX-S65 / LYX-S70 / LYX-S80
Soft grade TPU can be processed by injection molding or extrusion and is suitable for a variety of flexible footwear components.
ETPU for Footwear Midsoles
Expanded TPU (ETPU) is used for lightweight footwear components and midsoles where cushioning, resilience and energy return are important.
Foam-grade TPU can be processed into expanded TPU beads, providing a combination of low density, flexibility and rebound performance for sports and performance footwear.
Recommended Grades
E211 / E532
The appropriate ETPU grade can be selected according to the foaming process, target density and performance requirements.
Adhesive TPU for Footwear
Adhesive TPU provides different bonding solutions for footwear manufacturing. Depending on the process, TPU resin can be used for hot melt adhesive, solvent adhesive and hot melt adhesive film applications.
Hot Melt Adhesive TPU
Hot melt adhesive TPU can be used for shoe counters, toe puffs and other heat-activated bonding applications.
It can also be processed into TPU hot melt adhesive film for footwear lamination and assembly.
Solvent Adhesive TPU
Solvent adhesive TPU is designed for applications where TPU resin is dissolved in a suitable solvent system and used as a bonding material.
Grade selection depends on requirements such as solubility, viscosity and bonding performance.
Recommended Grades
LYX-3295L / LYX-3232 / LYX-3231
Different adhesive TPU grades can be recommended according to the bonding process, substrate and final performance requirements.
TPU for Footwear Accessories
TPU can also be used for injection-molded footwear components such as heels, logos, decorative parts and structural accessories.
By selecting different hardness levels and TPU grades, manufacturers can achieve the required balance of strength, flexibility, appearance and dimensional stability for different shoe designs.
Recommended Grades
LYX-LA90 / LYX-11160D
These TPU materials are suitable for various injection-molded footwear accessories and components.
Why Use TPU in Footwear?
TPU combines rubber-like elasticity with the processing advantages of thermoplastics, making it suitable for a wide range of footwear applications.
Key properties include:
- High abrasion resistance for soles and high-wear components
- Good flexibility and elasticity for repeated bending
- Wide hardness range for different footwear components
- Good mechanical strength
- Stable injection molding and extrusion performance
- Good appearance and colorability
- Special adhesive grades for shoe bonding and adhesive film
- Foam-grade TPU for lightweight and resilient midsoles
How to Select the Right TPU Grade for Footwear
The right TPU material for footwear depends on the shoe component, hardness, processing method and required performance.
For a faster material recommendation, please provide:
- Application: outsole, midsole, accessories, adhesive, etc.
- Hardness: required Shore A or Shore D
- Processing Method: injection molding, extrusion, adhesive, film or foaming
- Color: natural, transparent, black or customized
- Special Requirements: abrasion resistance, flexibility, bonding, low-temperature performance, etc.
Based on this information, we can recommend a suitable shoe grade TPU resin for testing.
Need a TPU Grade Recommendation?
Looking for TPU raw material for footwear manufacturing?
Tell us your application and processing requirements. We can provide grade recommendations, TDS, samples, technical support and quotation.
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