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Tips for Using Natural Rubber in EVA Foam Soles
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EVA, or ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, is currently a commonly used material in footwear manufacturing companies for producing both shoe soles and uppers. EVA foam soles boast excellent moisture absorption, heat resistance, abrasion resistance, weather resistance, and oil resistance. However, when worn, they tend to slip easily on wet surfaces and become relatively stiff at low temperatures—both of which are inherent defects of the material itself. With the continuous development and advancement of rubber-plastic compounding technology, the appropriate incorporation of natural rubber into EVA soles can significantly mitigate issues such as slipping and low-temperature brittleness, while also enhancing the puncture resistance of rubber soles.
1. Control the amount of natural rubber used.
The rational use of natural rubber in EVA soles can significantly enhance the overall performance of the soles. However, in actual production, increasing the amount of natural rubber does not necessarily lead to better results. It is understood that the foaming efficiency of EVA foam soles is closely related to the amount of natural rubber used: as the amount of natural rubber increases, the foaming rate steadily declines. Moreover, as the amount of natural rubber rises, the melt viscosity of the blended material—2LLYY0313-SJ—also increases, which in turn makes it more difficult for the foaming material to degas and leads to uneven foaming. Consequently, the shrinkage of the finished EVA foam sole becomes markedly greater.
Generally, in the production of EVA-natural rubber foamed soles, the amount of natural rubber should not exceed 20 parts to ensure uniform foaming of the EVA foamed sole and reduce shrinkage of the finished product.
2. Types of Compounding Agents for EVA-Natural Rubber Foamed Soles
The addition of a small amount of natural rubber to EVA foam soles can significantly improve the elasticity and elongation at break of the foam sole, thereby markedly enhancing its comfort. When preparing foam soles using an EVA-natural rubber blend, rubber product manufacturers who opt for peroxide vulcanization—such as DCP—will achieve better physical and mechanical properties in the blended material. Alternatively, selecting AC as a foaming agent allows for better coordination between the vulcanization rate and the foaming rate, further improving both the foaming efficiency and the uniformity of the foamed rubber sole.
Elastomer-rubber composites offer superior performance at lower costs and are now widely used. The inclusion of a small amount of natural rubber in EVA foam shoe soles can significantly enhance the overall performance of the soles. In foamed sole formulations based primarily on EVA, other elastomers such as cis-butadiene rubber and styrene-butadiene rubber can also be employed. In actual production, rubber product manufacturers not only need to carefully control the amounts of natural rubber and compounding agents in EVA foam sole formulations but also must appropriately adjust the vulcanization and foaming processes for the soles, taking into account the processing characteristics of both rubber and EVA materials. Regarding issues encountered during the production and processing of EVA-natural rubber foamed shoe soles, our editor will be glad to continue discussing them with you at a later time.
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