Current status and market trends of footwear adhesive and primer technology development

In the field of footwear manufacturing, adhesives and primers are key materials that determine product quality and durability. As the global footwear industry develops towards high efficiency and environmental protection, the technological innovation of adhesives and primers is becoming the focus of the industry. This article will explore the latest developments of footwear adhesives and primers from three aspects: technical characteristics, application scenarios and market trends.

From a technical perspective, modern footwear adhesives have gradually shifted from traditional solvent-based to water-based, hot melt and reactive products. Water-based adhesives are widely used in the manufacture of sports shoes and casual shoes due to their low VOC emissions and excellent environmental performance. Hot melt adhesives, with their characteristics of rapid curing and high-strength bonding, occupy an important position in the bonding process of soles and uppers. In addition, polyurethane reactive adhesives have become the first choice for high-end leather shoes and outdoor shoes due to their outstanding hydrolysis resistance and aging resistance.

As a key material for the surface treatment of shoe materials, primers mainly serve to enhance the adhesion of adhesives and improve the wear resistance of soles. The mainstream primer products on the market currently include acrylic primer, polyurethane primer and epoxy primer. Among them, polyurethane primer has outstanding performance in the treatment of rubber soles and EVA foam soles due to its excellent flexibility and chemical resistance. Epoxy primer is often used in the production of high-end leather shoes and work shoes due to its high-strength bonding performance.

In terms of market trends, increasingly stringent environmental regulations are driving the adhesive and primer industry to transform towards green. The EU REACH regulations and the US TSCA Act have continuously increased the environmental protection requirements for footwear chemicals, prompting manufacturers to accelerate the development of solvent-free and low-toxic products. At the same time, the footwear industry's requirements for production efficiency are also driving adhesives to develop in the direction of fast curing and low-temperature operation. In addition, with the rise of 3D printing sole technology, the research and development of special adhesives adapted to new shoe materials has also become a new hot spot in the industry.

In the future, the development of footwear adhesives and primers will pay more attention to the balance between performance and environmental protection. Technological innovation will continue to focus on improving bonding strength, shortening curing time, and reducing environmental impact, providing more efficient and sustainable solutions for the global footwear industry.