DEFINITIONS
Definition of Industry Terms

• Cellulose
• Footbed Terms
• Nylon
• Polyester
• Polyurethane (PU)
• TPU
• Thermoplastic
• Leather

• Footbed Terms

Compression Set - The amount of permanent set, or failure to return to its original thickness, measured in %, that a material exhibits after being exposed to a compressive force, for a given amount of time, at a specific temperature.

Compression Deflection - The amount of force required to compress a foam specimen by a given % over the entire top area of the specimen. Usually expressed in pounds per square inch (PSI).

Density - Describes the weight per unit volume of a material, usually expressed in PCF (pounds per cubic foot), or the metric equivalent kg/m3 (kilograms per cubic meter).

Durometer - A meter used to determine the hardness of cellular materials.

Elongation - The maximum length a material can be stretched without tearing, or exhibiting permanent distortions. The value is expressed as percentage of the materials original length.

Resilience - The ability of a material to recover from impressions and withstand additional impacts. Usually expressed as the ratio of return to impressed energy.

Tear Strength - Based on the thickness of the material, the resistance to growth of a nick or cut when tension is applied to the cut material.

Tensile Strength - The maximum amount of stress a material can withstand without tearing while being stretched lengthwise.

Thermal Stability - Dimensional stability in any direction of a material at elevated temperatures

(Link to Great Lotus )

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• Nylon

Nylons are one of the most common polymers used as a fiber. Nylon is found in clothing all the time, but also in other places, in the form of a thermoplastic. Nylon's first real success came with its use in women's stockings, in about 1940. They were a big hit, but they became hard to get, because the next year the United States entered World War II, and nylon was needed to make war materials, like parachutes and ropes. But before stockings or parachutes, the very first nylon product was a toothbrush with nylon bristles. Faure offer Nylon fabrics and blends of Polyester and Nylon for 2 color dying.

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• Polyester
  

Polyester Fiber Characteristics

Strong
Resistant to stretching and shrinking
Resistant to most chemicals
Quick drying
Crisp and resilient when wet or dry
Wrinkle resistant
Mildew resistant
Abrasion resistant
Retains heat-set pleats and creases
Easily washed

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• Polyurethane (PU)

Polyurethanes are the most well-known polymers used to make foams. However, polyurethanes are more than foam. They are the single most versatile family of polymers there is. Polyurethanes can be elastomers, and they can be paints. They can be fibers, and they can be adhesives. Spandex is a polyurethane. NanYa make PU coated non wovens and Great Lotus make breathable foams and footbeds from it.

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• TPU

Thermoplastic Polyurethane grades possess a wide range of properties that make them suitable for many applications.
Among the key physical properties of TPUs are: High tensile and tear strength; Excellent abrasion resistance; High impact resistance and vibration dampening properties; Good hydrolytic and microbial resistance (polyether grades); Excellent resistance to fuels, oils, ozone, and oxygen (polyester grades); High elasticity and resilience, as well as high load bearing capability and hardness; Good low temperature flexibility; Light/UV stable (aliphatic grades).
Because TPUs range from rubbery to stiff, the range of applications is varied. Typical applications are tubing, fire hose lining, animal ID tags, cable jacketing, hydraulic seals, mine screens, caster wheels, automotive gears, fuel and oil containment films, tarps, safety glass laminates, footwear and automotive instrument panels.

Nan Ya produce extruded TPU's which are highly abrasion resistant and easy to clean.

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• Thermoplastic

Plastics are called plastic because they are pliable and can be shaped and molded easily. As plastics become easier to mold and shape when they're hot, and melt when they get hot enough, they are called thermoplastics. This is differentiated from crosslinked materials that don't melt, called thermosets.
Box Toe and Counter materials are included in this category. (Link to TecnoGi)

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• Leather

This glossary comes from on a US government website, which is somewhat dated, but very comprehensive.

Link to Glossary Of Leather Terms

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