What are the differences between PU-soled and PVC-soled antistatic shoes?
Generally, people refer to synthetic leathers other than genuine leather, such as PVC-soled and PU-soled antistatic shoes, as imitation leather. Both PVC and PU-soled antistatic shoes are made of polyvinyl chloride (a type of plastic), but their manufacturing processes differ.
PVC-soled antistatic shoes are manufactured by first melting and mixing plastic granules into a paste, then evenly coating it onto a T/C knitted fabric base to a specified thickness. The mixture is then foamed in a foaming furnace to achieve the necessary softness for various products and requirements. Simultaneously, surface treatments (dyeing, embossing, polishing, matte finish, brushed finish, etc., depending on specific product requirements) are applied.
PU-soled antistatic shoes have a more complex manufacturing process than PVC-soled shoes. Because the sole fabric of PU-soled shoes is made of high-tensile-strength canvas PU material, it can be coated on top of the sole fabric or embedded within it, making the sole fabric invisible from the outside. PU-soled electrostatic shoes have better physical properties than PVC-soled electrostatic shoes. They are more resistant to bending, more flexible, have higher tensile strength, and are breathable (PVC-soled electrostatic shoes lack these properties). The patterns on PVC-soled electrostatic shoes are created by hot pressing with steel pattern rollers; the patterns on PU-soled electrostatic shoes are made by first hot-pressing patterned paper onto the surface of semi-finished leather, then separating the paper and leather after cooling for surface treatment. PU-soled electrostatic shoes are more than twice as expensive as PVC-soled electrostatic shoes, and some special-grade PU-soled electrostatic shoes can be 2-3 times more expensive. Generally, the patterned paper used for PU-soled electrostatic shoes can only be used 4-5 times before being discarded; the pattern rollers have a longer lifespan, therefore, the cost of PU-soled electrostatic shoes is higher than that of PVC-soled electrostatic shoes.
The two materials also have different applications. In footwear, PVC-soled electrostatic shoes are mostly used for linings or non-weight-bearing parts, or in children's shoes; PU-soled electrostatic shoes can be used for uppers or weight-bearing parts of shoes. For bags, PVC-soled electrostatic shoes are more commonly used. This is because the items inside the bag, unlike the feet in shoes, do not generate heat and do not bear the weight of the user.
The difference between PU-soled and PVC-soled electrostatic shoes is relatively easy to discern. Looking at the edges, the sole of PU-soled shoes is much thicker than that of PVC-soled shoes. They also differ in feel; PU-soled shoes feel softer, while PVC-soled shoes feel harder. Additionally, burning a flame will reveal that PU-soled shoes have a much milder odor than PVC-soled shoes.