Effects of multi-functional surface-texturing on the ice friction and abrasion characteristics of hybrid composite materials for footwear

摘要

There is growing demand for composite materials for use with slip-resistant footwear. This paper reports on the optimization of a surface-textured hybrid composite material with good slip-resistance on ice. Our material has a unique design consisting of a soft rubber compound reinforced with a combination of soft and hard microscopic fibers embedded within it that protrude out from its surface. These fibers can penetrate icy surfaces, while the soft rubber component deforms to mold against hard substrates resulting in mechanical interlocking.