Shoes - Thermoplastic polymers, elastomers and additives

The main components of a shoe are the sole, the heel, the top and the linings and reinforcements. In a well manufactured shoe there are two soles, the outsole and the inner sole. The outsole that contacts the floor can be in leather or TR (Thermoplastic rubber). The inner sole preferably of leather, or TR (Thermoplastic rubber), rests under the foot. Below the inner sole, there is a space occupied by a compressible padding that separates the inner and outer soles.

The heel consists of two parts: the proximal section, made of rigid leather or ABS and the plantar surface, which contacts the floor. The plantar surfaces of most of the heels of men are TR (Thermoplastic rubber).

The portion of the shoe located above (cut) of the sole is the upper part, which consists of an anterior section (the instep) and a posterior section (the quarters). The instep should be sewn or molded of soft leather or fabric to minimize pressure on the delicate back areas of the foot.