Machine Design – May 2019

ePTFE and Athletic Shoes

who don’t know how waterproof mem-
branes work and confuse DWR treat-
ments with the waterproof membrane
itself. it is important to also apply exte-
rior DWR treatments on footwear and
apparel because waterlogged exterior
fabrics do reduce performance.

REPACKAGING EPTFE
In the last couple of years, W.L. Gore
has introduced Invisible Fit and 3D Fit,
which offer new benefits in terms of the
way ePTFE can be put into shoes.
Invisible Fit Footwear basically means
that rather than using a pre-constructed
bootie made of ePTFE inserted into the
footwear, shoes are built more along the
lines of a three-layer jacket construc-
tion. That is, the Gore-Tex ePTFE mem-
brane is adhered to the outer material
of the shoe’s upper before the it is built,
and then has a protective back or liner
added. (The upper is the part of the shoe
above the sole.) The Invisible Fit method

requires fewer seams, reducing bulk and

weight, and cutting weight is always a

priority in athletic gear. All seams in

the three-layer laminate are sealed with

ePTFE tape to ensure the membrane

layer is completely watertight.

Invisible Fit results in the ePTFE

membrane disappearing more within

Material engineers such as those at Gore-Tex, are helping make lighter, more comfortable

running shoes that re also waterproof but breathable.

38

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MAY 2019 MACHINE DESIGN