We find ourselves in the midst of Olympic Games fever once again. Our top athletes are competing at the highest level and strive for top honours in their chosen fields.

Most of the older will remember the rubber-soled plimsolls that were traditionally worn in PE lessons throughout most schools in Europe. These were available in any colour you liked as long as it was black or white.

These have been replaced by air cushioned, gel filled capsules with superior technical performance. They come in a variety of colours, shapes and forms and are purchased as much for their appearance as their performance.

The ground-breaking manufacturing technique that allowed the development of the plimsoll was called vulcanisation, which is still used today. This process uses heat to meld rubber and cloth together. Sulphur is used during the process.

Plimsolls were revolutionary at the time as they provided comfort, were lightweight and allowed the user to move around silently. Plimsolls became known as sneakers and were sold on a mass scale in America as early as 1917.

In the four years since the last Olympics in Athens technology has moved on somewhat and has definitely moved on since the plimsoll days.

Trainers and clothing has evolved to be lighter and stronger. But what part has technology had to play in enhancing the performance of our Olympians?

Trainers and sport shoes have evolved, we have different shoes for each event and each pair of shoes is manufactured from a variety of number materials chosen because of their individual properties to put strength and flexibility where it is needed most. Materials such as Kevlar which is ten times stronger than leather, leather or canvas which is both thin, stable and of a low density, foam blown polyurethane which gives a shoe extra cushioning and thermoplastic polyurethane which make a shoe both strong and pliable As technology has evolved scientists have developed new composite materials which work together to produce a better performance than that of the two or three separate materials.

Differing materials offer different properties such as stability; offering resistance to twisting and warping. When weight is applied to a material over a period of time it will creep (flatten out and spread).

Some materials are used for their elastic properties, the ability to flex and bend when force is applied and then retain its original shape when the force is removed. Finally, some materials are chosen for their density which can be explained as the amount of matter in an object has per measurement of space, these materials are generally used for shock absorption.

Polyurethane is a unique material that offers the elasticity of rubber combined with the toughness and durability of metal. The flexible type of polyurethane is used to make upholstery, mattresses, earplugs, chemical-resistant coatings, specialty adhesives and sealants, and packaging. It also comes to the rigid forms of insulation for buildings, water heaters, refrigerated transport, and commercial and residential refrigeration. It is used in the manufacture of sports shoes because of its lightweight shock absorption properties as well as being pliable as well as having great torsional and bending strength. Kevlar is one of the most important man-made organic fibres ever developed. The fibre possesses a remarkable combination of properties that has led to its use in a variety of commercial products since its invention in the 1970's. The fibres of Kevlar consist of long inter-connecting molecular chains produces from poly - paraphenylene terephthalamide. Kevlar offers high tensile strength with a low weight, structural rigidity, low electrical conductivity, high chemical resistance, low thermal shrinkage, excellent dimensional strength, high cut resistance, flame resistant and self extinguishing. Pretty versatile really!

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