Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) film and bio-based plastics (PEBA) film are laminated as a film. PEBA is made out of block copolymers of polyamide 11 and polyether segments, and polyamide 11 is made out of castor oil.

PEBA has general features such as high chemical resistance, high UV resistance, high impact resistance at low temperatures and lower density. Also PEBA is easy to process and can be used as additive or in blends with other polymers or rubbers.

TPU has general features such as excellent abrasion resistance, good tear resistance, good oil and grease resistance. TPU are gradually decomposed by hydrolysis and by explosion of NOx, minerals, UV, heat, bacteria.

Stability of materials under high temperature and high humidity (85°C, 85%) condition was tested. The results showed that PEBA/TPU film maintained 90% of initial molecular weight after 170 hours while TPU film dropped its initial molecular weight down to 70%. Which shows PEBA/TPU film has better stability than TPU under high temperature and high humidity condition.

Impact resistance of the films was tested by instrumented puncture test method and the results showed that PEBA/TPU film required about 1.6 times higher energy than TPU film to puncture sample films, which shows PEBA/TPU film has higher impact resistance than TPU film.

The PEBA contains polyamide 11 segments, which is made out of castor oil therefore PEBA is a bio-based plastics, which is environmentally conscious material. Using bio-based PEBA saves energy and costs by being the lightest thermal plastic elastomer.

TPU/PEBA double layered film is used as the surface of soccer ball. Initially we had a problem with printings on the surface of PEBA film due to its high chemical resistance. To solve this printing problem TPU film was chosen to be laminated over PEBA film so that printings can be on the surface of TPU film.

©2005 FIFA TM