Thermo-formable Materials for Ski Boots for Improved Comfort and Performance

Four different materials used for the production of ski boots have been analyzed in order to determine their performance in the thermo-formation process used to modify the shape of ski boots and therefore improve their comfort. As a first step, the chemical composition and the thermo-mechanical properties have been analyzed pointing out that materials based on a blend of nylon with methacrylate ionomers provide the largest decrease of the storage modulus at 80 °C. The results of the thermo-formation process indicate that the boot based on the methacrylate ionomer has the larger deformation after the thermo-formation process and the lowest memory effect. These results indicate that the decrease in modulus from 0 °C to 80 °C is the most important factor to be considered in order to obtain a more consistent and permanent modification of the boot shape.