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TPE for
Footwear
Flexible SEBS/SBS-based TPE compounds for footwear parts - outsoles, midsoles, straps, and comfort inserts. Grades span15-90A / 40-52D Shore hardness with elongation over 800%, balancing grip, flex, and durability in a recyclable elastomer.
15A
Softest
available grade
>800%
Elongation
at break
12 MPa
Maximum
tensile strength
100%
Recyclable
material
OUR MISSION
We engineer flexible, recyclable TPE compounds for footwear outsoles, midsoles, and comfort parts, matched to your hardness, grip, and processing requirements.
01
Recommended grades
Suggested FARRPRENE compounds for this sector, matched by hardness and processing. Open a grade for its full datasheet.
| GRADE | HARDNESS | TYPE | TENSILE | TYPICAL USE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FARRPRENE IU250A | 25 Shore A | Injection / Unfilled | 4 MPa | Ultra-soft straps, cushioning inserts and comfort components |
| FARRPRENE IU450A | 45 Shore A | Injection / Unfilled | 4 MPa | Flexible straps and soft overmoulds |
| FARRPRENE EU400A | 40 Shore A | Extrusion / Unfilled | 5.5 MPa | Soft extruded welts and trims |
| FARRPRENE IF753A | 75 Shore A | Injection / Filled | 7 MPa | Firmer outsole and structural footwear parts |
Typical average values, not a specification. Request the signed datasheet for current values, and ask us to qualify a compound to your exact requirement.
OVERVIEW
Footwear uses thermoplastic elastomers for outsoles, straps, comfort inserts and bumpers, where a component must flex through millions of cycles, grip, and feel comfortable against the foot. TPE is injection moulded or extruded without a curing step, which shortens cycle times against cured rubber and allows sprues and rejects to be reground. FARRPRENE covers the ultra-soft cushioning band through to firmer structural outsole compounds.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- TPE footwear components are moulded and re-meltable, so production scrap re-enters the process instead of becoming waste.
- Cushioning and comfort parts use the softest band; structural outsole components need substantially firmer compounds.
- Unfilled translucent grades are the usual base for coloured and tinted footwear parts.
- Skin-contact and dermatological requirements are not characterised in the published catalogue and need separate qualification.
02
Hardness selection
Typical Shore A bands by part type. Selection guidance, not a specification - confirm against your own duty cycle. Rigid Shore D grades are a separate range.
| PART TYPE | TYPICAL BAND | WHY |
|---|---|---|
| Cushioning inserts and comfort pads | 15-30 Shore A | Maximum deflection under body weight for shock absorption. |
| Straps and flexible overmoulds | 35-55 Shore A | Bends and conforms to the foot while resisting stretch-out over time. |
| Extruded welts and trims | 40-55 Shore A | Enough melt strength to hold a profile, enough softness to follow the last. |
| Mid-hardness outsole and bumper components | 60-70 Shore A | Abrasion resistance and grip without losing flex at the forefoot. |
| Structural outsole and heel parts | 70-85 Shore A | Carries load and resists deformation across the gait cycle. |
FREQUENTLY ASKED
Questions
engineers ask.
What TPE hardness is used for footwear outsoles?
- Outsole and bumper components typically sit between 60 and 85 Shore A. The softer end of that band favours grip and forefoot flex; the firmer end favours abrasion resistance and structural support under the heel.
Is TPE a good alternative to rubber for shoe soles?
- For most non-performance and mid-market footwear, yes. TPE moulds faster because it needs no vulcanisation, colours cleanly, and allows regrind. Vulcanised rubber still leads on abrasion resistance at the extreme end of performance outsoles.
Can TPE footwear components be recycled?
- Production scrap can be reground and reprocessed directly. Post-consumer recycling depends on the shoe's construction, because a bonded multi-material sole is difficult to separate regardless of the elastomer used.
Can FARRPRENE grades be colour-matched?
- Yes. Unfilled (translucent) grades give the cleanest colour reproduction and are the usual base for a colour match to a customer reference. Filled (natural) grades can also be pigmented, with a slightly more muted result.
FOOTWEAR TPE
Specify a footwear
compound with us.
Our engineering team develops footwear-grade TPE compounds tailored to your hardness, grip, and processing requirements.