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‘I needed an IV’: shoes melt as turf temperature reaches 157F in Eagles-Titans game (www.theguardian.com)
submitted 1 month ago by to c/climate@slrpnk.net
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“I’ve never thought about how hot a stadium can be if it’s [synthetic] turf. [The heat] just sits there and bounces up into you,” Mailata said. “[The union] have got to bring it up. This is why we want all grass fields, to create a standard of play in the league where we’re not putting players in dangerous positions if we don’t have to.”

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[–] 7 points 1 month ago (5 children)

Most TPRs (thermoplastic rubber) materials melt above 350F. Most shoes are made from thermoset materials, ie the same material as tires which once cured do not melt. Although the field was likely much too hot for athletes to be comfortable or even safe, the title is complete bullshit.

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  • [–] 4 points 1 month ago (1 child)

    True, but remember that these cleats aren't "most shoes" and include some comparatively exotic materials. They'll stop holding their shape well before 350°F or literal melting into liquid. Having worked with similar materials in the past and having just refreshed my memory with some spec sheets because you piqued my curiosity, I buy it.

    • PU shoe adhesives are designed to reactivate at roughly 50–80°C. This would absolutely have turned into goo.
    • EVA foam softens and takes a permanent set around 60–90°C. Squished, deformed foam is "melted" to most people.
    • Soft TPU and TPR are long past their rated temperature by then, but they creep and get gummy well below their melt point. Players reported "soft plastic" causing issues and I'd bet this is why.

    Otherwise, 157°F is one reading of the turf surface (I'm assuming, at least — haven't seen documentation of how this was measured). Contact points, dark spots, a foot grinding in all have a shot at being even hotter.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 month ago

    Agree. My experience with Santoprene TPR material is fairly dated. Although the processing point or glass transition temperature of that material is 320-350F, I could see how even moderate temperatures could make shoes feel softer. Especially with the weight and power of a professional footbal player on top of them. But originally I was reacting to the sensationalist headline stating the shoes were melting. Today Ai headlines can basically state anything to get clicks and rarely get called out. We are just desensitized to that garbage. I’ll get off my old man chair now.

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  • [–] 7 points 1 month ago (1 child)

    tires are vulcanized rubber. most modern shoes are not.

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  • [–] 6 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

    Vulcanized rubber usually refers to natural rubber from plant material. Tires are thermoset, EPDM ( ethylene propylene diene monomer). EPDM is vulcanized or cross linked with either a sulpher or peroxide based system. As are shoe soles.

    Edit: the long chain polymers are cross linked not cured which changes the plastic or elastomer to a thermoset which will not melt

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