Abigail Turner learns more about the company’s latest product offering slipping resistance.

Global chemical company Huntsman has launched Avalon Gecko as part of its thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) portfolio.

The new range of innovative, high-performance TPU materials has been created for the footwear industry. Drawing inspiration from the reptiles, geckos, products in the portfolio offer comparable slip performance to rubber in both wet and dry conditions.

Hugo Verbeke, Global R&D Director Elastomers at Huntsman said: “TPU in general has always been good for footwear as the wearing layer, the outsole, because of its very high-performance. It is both flexible and strong.”

Verbeke explained how the challenge has been around slipping resistance, when creating footwear. Typically, the difference between dry and wet slip resistance has been large, meaning it was tricky to develop an outsole that could seamlessly move from wet to dry surfaces.

Traditionally, footwear has been crafted with vulcanised rubber. Vulcanisation is a process of heating rubber with certain chemicals, extending its durability. When making a shoe