Leverkusen, Germany – Skin tight underclothing worn by World Cup 2014 footballers in Brazil “temporarily stores energy when stretched and returns it to the athlete as they move,” according to a press release from Bayer MaterialScience (BMS).
The capacity to store energy within clothing is provided the components of the material's polyurethane textile coating.
The company says its material contains highly elastic bands which briefly store energy when stretched in competition and subsequently returns it to the athlete when they move.
The company’s press release said the innovation pivots on “elastic surfaces printed onto the shirts and pants” which give the athlete the energy boost.
The clothing is lightweight, comfortable and fits snugly against the body said BMS.
Elastic bands incorporated in the garments are coated with Impranil. BMS claims its polyurethane dispersions are "exclusively waterborne and contain no co-solvents."
Sports apparel maker adidas, also based in Germany, uses the chemical manufacturer’s technology in its World Cup 2014 shoe, the Samba Copa Mundial which it describes as “particularly lightweight, robust and comfortable.”
Its outsole is constructed of dual-density direct injected polyurethane with moulded studs, said BMS.
