Desmopan® AP: Tougher, stronger TPU for ski boots with a smaller carbon footprint

Serving a changing winter sports market

Consumers are increasingly aware that the winter sports industry can have serious negative impacts on the environment, from greenhouse gas emissions to waste generation. 

At the same time, however, consumers are not willing to compromise on quality. They want durable, long-lasting ski boots with superior cold resistance and the ability to withstand the most challenging of conditions. 

In turn, the pressure is on designers and manufacturers to create high-performance ski boots with more sustainable plastics – and meet the demands of eco-conscious skiing enthusiasts who are concerned by their sport’s impact on the natural world they love. 

Translating technical advantages into practical applications

Our new hard TPU grades, developed as part of our Desmopan® AP portfolio based on advanced polyether technology, offer high performance and many technical advantages. This makes them ideal for a range of demanding applications – including ski boots.

Besides that, Desmopan® AP can be compounded with standard polyethers and impact-modified polyesters (such as our 38xx range). With their superior mechanical properties – including cold resistance, excellent bonding in 2K applications, and better impact resistance (as demonstrated via Charpy impact tests) – these TPU compounds are the perfect companion on the slopes.

The cutting edge of sustainability

Sustainability and performance go hand in hand in our new Desmopan® AP materials. Our new TPUs have a lower environmental impact without compromising on quality, thanks to our advanced polyether technology. In fact, we have further improved important characteristics such as strength and durability, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in material science.

These new materials feature improved lifecycle assessment (LCA) scores and a carbon footprint approximately 35% lower than conventional grades. This allows you to create products that are more sustainable – such as ski boots with a reduced footprint on the planet.