May 6th, 2005

First user trials of P2i-protected trainers produce positive results

Porton Down, UK - Preliminary reports from trials by athletes wearing P2i-protected trainers made by leading global brands have indicated that P2i’s plasma finish improves comfort and performance. The finished shoes were treated using P2i’s super liquid repellent plasma coating. P2i’s super repellency, some three times better than industry standard Teflon® coating, means that the fabric of the uppers can be made truly breathable, allowing the free passage of air and perspiration and so keeping the foot cool and dry, even when running in the rain.

“A simple way to illustrate this is with a piece of P2i-protected netting,” explains P2i’s Technical Director, Dr Stephen Coulson. “This has a hole diameter of about 2mm, so no question that it is truly breathable, unlike the traditional, so-called breathable membranes commonly used in footwear today. Untreated, and water droplets fall straight through. P2i-protected, and you can roll water droplets around like mercury. “

P2i is working with some household brand names to bring this technology to market in the next generation of sporting and casual footwear. It is also working with leading names in the fashion wear industry, for whom appearance of their shoes is paramount.

“Top footwear designers want their shoes to keep their pristine appearance for as long as possible,” explained Quentin Compton-Bishop, P2i’s CEO. “They want to use delicate leathers, suede and other materials and often in a variety of light colours. So, P2i’s plasma protection can prevent rain-spotting and many of the other hazards of daily wear without affecting the look and feel of the fine materials being used in the shoes’ manufacture.”

P2i has scaled up its plasma-enhancement facilities to the point where it can carry out trial production runs on batches of fully assembled footwear. The plasma vapour reaches every exposed surface, seam or zip, covering it in an invisible protective coating that will stop water, wine and oils from soaking in.

P2i’s plasma process can also be used to apply different surface effects desired by footwear designers, such as antibacterial and anti-odour, benefits that both athletes and fashion wearers will appreciate.