Huntsman Launches New Water-Blown Sole System for Higher-Quality Footwear

Huntsman Polyurethanes has announced the launch of DALTOPED® AquaPUR, an innovative water-blown polyether-based polyurethane technology that delivers excellent flow and surface finish for shoe soles with improved appearance and feel. The DALTOPED® AquaPUR technology, set for market introduction, enables shoe manufacturers to produce high-quality surface finish comparable to what is typically associated with conventional blown systems. Designed to provide improved appearance and better shoe sole performance across numerous footwear applications, including everyday comfort shoes, DALTOPED® AquaPUR is available in various densities and is also suitable for direct processing and casting of single soles and midsoles. DALTOPED® AquaPUR delivers all standard properties expected from a polyether material, including cold flexibility, hydrolysis resistance and good abrasion resistance, while also offering excellent processing characteristics. Additionally, compatible with standard polyurethane processing machinery, this technology features excellent flow properties that enable complex designs with numerous color options. The material exhibits superior blend stability in the machine tank and, due to its ability to be processed at room temperature, helps reduce energy consumption and shorten production cycles.