An ultra-light graphene-rubber foam particle for soles is prepared from, by weight, 60-65 parts of natural rubber, 8-12 parts of isoprene rubber, 8-12 parts of butadiene rubber, 6-8 parts of styrene butadiene rubber, 0.8-1.0 parts of modified graphene, 0.08-0.12 parts of poly(N-vinylacetamide), 0.8-1.0 parts of silicone oil, 3.0-3.5 parts of inorganic nano-particles, 1.2-1.5 parts of activated zinc oxide, 0.8-1.0 parts of zinc stearate, 1.0-1.2 parts of stearic acid, 0.8-1.0 parts of cross-linking agents, 2.0-3.0 parts of flow promotors, and 1.5-1.8 parts of foaming agents. According to the invention, the modified graphene is uniformly dispersed into the rubber materials, so that the ultra-light graphene-rubber foam particle has good thermal stability, wear resistance and tensile strength, the permanent compressive-deformation performance and thermal contraction resistance are improved, and the weight is reduced by over 50%.

The present invention generally relates to the printing of materials, using 3-dimensional printing and other printing techniques, including the use of one or more mixing nozzles, and/or multi-axis control over the translation and/or rotation of the print head or the substrate onto which materials are printed. In some embodiments, a material may be prepared by extruding material through print head comprising a nozzle, such as a microfluidic printing nozzle, which may be used to mix materials within the nozzle and direct the resulting product onto a substrate. The print head and/or the substrate may be configured to be translated and/or rotated, for example, using a computer or other controller, in order to control the deposition of material onto the substrate.

A method of forming a composite article includes constructing a preform having a strand layer including an interior portion and a peripheral portion surrounding the interior portion. The strand layer includes a plurality of strand segments traversing the interior portion and defining a first strand segment population density and a second strand segment population density. The preform is inserted into the mold cavity so that the interior portion of the preform is received in a molding region of the mold cavity. The molding region has a first thickness corresponding to the first strand segment population density and a second thickness corresponding to the second strand segment population density. Following the inserting, the mold is closed and the interior portion of the preform is compressed within the molding region. In the closed mold, the peripheral portion of the strand layer may be maintained in a loose state within the relief region.

A method of forming a plate for an article of footwear is disclosed. The method includes applying a first strand portion to a base layer including positioning adjacent segments of the first strand portion to form a first layer on the base layer. The adjacent segments of the first strand portion having a greater density across a width of the plate between a medial side and a lateral side at a forefoot region of the plate than at a midfoot region of the plate and at a heel region of the plate. The method also includes applying at least one of heat and pressure to the first strand portion and to the base layer to conform the first strand portion and the base layer to a predetermined shape.

Provided is a method for manufacturing a porous midsole the method including: a cotton-beating step (S1) of forming a midsole base (10) having porous voids 16 by mixing low melting fibers (12) and high melting fibers (14); and a thermoforming step (S2) of bonding and fixing the high melting fibers into a compressed state by the melt adhesive strength of the low melting fibers (12) by compressively thermoforming the midsole base (10) at a melting point temperature of the low melting fibers (12).

An athletic shoe extending between toe (1) and heel (3) and comprising upper (5) attached to outsole (7) via comfort sole (9). According to the invention, the athletic shoe comprises shell (13) make of plastic or composite material, inserted between upper (5) and comfort sole (9) and to which it is attached at heel (1).

A three-dimensional out sole having a pattern having improved quality and durability has a dye permeated into the surface of the outsole. A depth to which the dye penetrating the micropores is 0.08 mm to 0.12 mm. The dye is permeated into the microspores through vacuum suction. The dye is digitally printed on a thermoplastic sheet. The thermoplastic sheet on which the dye is printed is heated to be softened with flexibility. The softened sheet having flexibility is closely attached to a surface of the shoe outsole having the three-dimensional shape through vacuum adsorption and then is permeated therein.

In order to provide a shoe member excellent in strength, the shoe member is composed of a polymer composition that includes cellulose nanofibers and one or more of inorganic fillers selected from the group consisting of magnesium carbonate particles, calcium carbonate particles, silica particles, and talc particles.

A sole for a shoe is provided comprising at least two reinforcing members extending at least in a front half of the sole, and at least two blade members extending at least in the front half of the sole. The reinforcing members define a first layer within the sole, and the blade members define a second layer in the sole, wherein the first layer and the second layer are at least partially displaced from one another in a vertical direction.

A plate is used for a sole that forms a part of a shoe. The plate includes a mid- and rear-foot support portion in a shape extending from a position superimposed on a rear end portion of a metatarsal bone of a wearer of the shoe in a thickness direction of the sole to a position superimposed on a heel bone of the wearer, the mid- and rear-foot support portion supporting a midfoot portion and a rear foot portion of the wearer. The mid- and rear-foot support portion is in a shape convex upward in a cross-section in a foot width direction.