Category

Poster - Theoretical Proposal

Description

Soccer, or football as known in the majority of the world, is the largest sport by fanbase in the world. One of the most critical components of the sport is the ball that is used in the game. The ball has seen many improvements made to every component of the ball and every step of the manufacturing process. Most notable of these improvements made is to the outside of the soccer ball. Old soccer balls were made using a leather cover. This covering would quickly affect the performance of the ball as excess moisture would be absorbed by the leather. This covering has since been changed to a polyurethane (PU) cover in most high-quality balls. This new covering resists moisture absorption allowing for better performance during an event. Even though the modern soccer ball is greatly improved over its ancestors, it is far from perfect. The ball’s cover is still prone to laceration, smudging, and environmental damage that shortens the lifespan of the ball. To solve this problem, research will be proposed to assess and theorize a new polymer or blend of polymers that may improve the durability of the outside of the ball while maintaining high performance of the ball. Also, PU will be compared to PVC and the original leather covering as a gauge for performance.

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Undergraduate

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Apr 16th, 1:00 PM

Is the Perfect Soccer Ball Still Out There? A Review and Optimization of the Beautiful Game.

Poster - Theoretical Proposal

Soccer, or football as known in the majority of the world, is the largest sport by fanbase in the world. One of the most critical components of the sport is the ball that is used in the game. The ball has seen many improvements made to every component of the ball and every step of the manufacturing process. Most notable of these improvements made is to the outside of the soccer ball. Old soccer balls were made using a leather cover. This covering would quickly affect the performance of the ball as excess moisture would be absorbed by the leather. This covering has since been changed to a polyurethane (PU) cover in most high-quality balls. This new covering resists moisture absorption allowing for better performance during an event. Even though the modern soccer ball is greatly improved over its ancestors, it is far from perfect. The ball’s cover is still prone to laceration, smudging, and environmental damage that shortens the lifespan of the ball. To solve this problem, research will be proposed to assess and theorize a new polymer or blend of polymers that may improve the durability of the outside of the ball while maintaining high performance of the ball. Also, PU will be compared to PVC and the original leather covering as a gauge for performance.

 

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