Iranian Experts Use Nanotechnology to Improve Quality of Shoe Soles
“Our products include two main types of standard samples and samples containing silica nanoparticles. Adding silica nanoparticles to these raw materials has made the quality of shoe soles much higher than those available in the market, specially in terms of abrasion and mechanical properties,” Maryam Azizi, the executive manager of the company, told ANA.
Noting that shoe sole manufacturers are the main consumers of the company’s products, she said, “These raw materials have significant competitive advantages over imported samples. Our product has outstanding mechanical properties, including high resistance to abrasion and tearing, and is offered to customers at a lower price than foreign samples.”
“One of the distinctive features of our products is the ability to modify their properties based on customer needs. Our specialized team, which consists of people educated in the field of polymers, can change the properties of the raw materials in accordance with the customer's production line and products. This increases flexibility in production and improves the final quality of shoe soles,” Azizi said.
In a relevant development in October, a technological company in Iran has produced shoe soles containing nanoparticles, which are mainly resistant to wear and slipping.
Precipitated silica nanoparticles are used in the soles of these shoes which increases resistance to wear and tear.
This technology can be used in the production of shoes and rubber, and industries like construction, paint, resin, coating and textile. The primary and main ingredient of this product is known as hydrated silica in the market.
The Iranian company has succeeded in receiving a nanoscale certificate and a knowledge-based certificate for its products.
Hydrated silica is a form of silicon dioxide, which has a variable amount of water in the formula. When dissolved in water, it is usually known as silicic acid. It is found in nature as opal (which has been mined as a gemstone for centuries), and in the cell walls of diatoms. It is also synthetically manufactured for use in toothpaste as an abrasive to assist in cleaning.
Hydrated silica can be dehydrated to produce silica gel [which is used as a desiccant. It is also used in various paints and varnishes and in the production of beer.
Hydrated silicas can form in nature through biotic processes primarily involving benthic microorganism activity in the oceans. However, there are several abiotic processes that form hydrated silicas, such as precipitating out of solution, forming a diagenetic alteration product, or replacing pre-existing minerals in sedimentary rocks.
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