Abstract
An athlete’s performance depends not only on the shoes they wear but also on the surface used in sports facilities. In addition, it can significantly contribute to reducing injuries, which are easy to get during sports competitions. In the present study, we wanted to investigate whether recycled styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) and ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) could be used in the production of sports surfaces. For this purpose, we designed three different sports surfaces: (1) SBR covered with a thin EPDM spray layer on the top, (2) clean EPDM, and (3) bottom SBR layer with the top layer of EPDM. The test program of these surfaces included in its scope: shock absorption, vertical deformation, tensile strength, abrasion resistance, and slip resistance tests. Our research also involved the influence of the substrate under surface, temperature, and surface conditions. Presented results show that both materials, in the right proportions, can be used in the production of sports surfaces.
Highlights
Over the years, sports have become an indispensable part of human life, no matter if it is actively practiced or passively watched on television
The highest shock absorptions in our own study were reported for the styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) covered with a thin ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) spray layer on the top surface, and the lowest shock absorptions were with a thin EPDM spray layer on the top surface, and the lowest shock absorptions were reported for the clean EPDM surface
SBR layer layer with with the the top top layer of EPDM after high temperature interaction, (b) SBR covered with a thin EPDM spray layer layer of EPDM after high temperature interaction, (b) SBR covered with a thin EPDM spray layer on on the top conditioned at ◦22 °C temperature, (c) SBR covered with a thin EPDM spray layer on the the top conditioned at 22 C temperature, (c) SBR covered with a thin EPDM spray layer on the top top conditioned at◦22 °C temperature after the freeze-thaw stresses
Summary
Sports have become an indispensable part of human life, no matter if it is actively practiced or passively watched on television This trend, resulted in a sharp increase in injuries caused by sports accidents taking place during physical activities [1,2]. Popular injuries that athletes suffer are injuries to the limbs, including the feet and ankles, with a wide range of mechanisms: light, sharp, and even a long-term or complete disability [3,4] Many of these injuries can be prevented by appropriate equipment, protective clothing, and safe sports surfaces providing adequate shock absorption after a fall. That may be a reason why recent years showed increased interest in these materials in the sport surface industry, as they are assessed based on their functionality, strength, and water resistance. They are doing remarkably well compared to traditional sport surface materials, such as asphalt or wood, which are way more expensive than polymer or composite materials
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