About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Characterization of Minerals, Metals and Materials 2026 - In-Situ Characterization Techniques
|
| Presentation Title |
Characterizing Mechanisms Behind the Break-in of Kangaroo Leather Soccer Cleats Using X-ray Tomography |
| Author(s) |
Pranav Rajan, Eshan Ganju, Nikhilesh Chawla |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Pranav Rajan |
| Abstract Scope |
Kangaroo leather has long been used in soccer cleats and is noted for its "break-in" characteristics. Break-in encompasses kangaroo leather’s ability to form to a player's foot faster than other materials, increasing comfort and performance The underlying mechanisms responsible for this effect are not well-understood. This work seeks to understand the break-in effect at a microstructural scale, comparing cleats before and after use. In this study, in situ x-ray microcomputed tomography was used to analyze the kangaroo leather uppers of soccer cleats to observe microstructural evolution during use. We identified key interactions at the microstructure level that contribute to the break-in behavior and quantified changes in fiber length and thickness. Our findings provide new insight and mechanisms into the break-in effect of kangaroo leather soccer cleats. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Characterization, Biomaterials, Polymers |