{"id":4741,"date":"2026-01-11T11:59:32","date_gmt":"2026-01-11T03:59:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hxtio2.com\/en\/?post_type=hx_use-case&#038;p=4741"},"modified":"2026-02-12T15:31:57","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T07:31:57","slug":"titanium-dioxide-and-shoe-soles","status":"publish","type":"hx_use-case","link":"https:\/\/staging.hxtio2.com\/ta\/use-case\/titanium-dioxide-and-shoe-soles\/","title":{"rendered":"Titanium Dioxide and Shoe Soles"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2>Introduction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Titanium dioxide (TiO\u2082)<\/strong> is widely recognized in materials science for its ability to deliver bright whiteness, strong opacity, and resistance to UV\u2011induced aging. Beyond coatings, plastics, and rubber, it has also become a valued additive in footwear materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the <a href=\"https:\/\/staging.hxtio2.com\/en\/industries\/footwear-industry\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Titanium Dioxide in the Footwear Industry\">footwear industry<\/a>, TiO2 contributes not only to appearance but also to performance. It ensures soles remain clean and consistent in color, helps prevent yellowing under sunlight, and supports durability in everyday wear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Shoe Sole Basics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Different Types of Soles<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In terms of layered structure and functional roles, a shoe sole can be divided into three main components: the <strong>outsole<\/strong>, the <strong>midsole<\/strong>, and the <strong>insole (footbed)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"gs_icon_list_832 hx_icon-list gsbp-56db05f\">\n<li class=\"icon-list-item\">\n<div class=\"icon-list-wrapper\">\n<svg viewBox=\"0 0 512 1024\" width=\"512\" height=\"1024\" class=\"icon-list-icon\"><path d=\"M49.414 76.202l-39.598 39.596c-9.372 9.372-9.372 24.568 0 33.942l361.398 362.26-361.398 362.26c-9.372 9.372-9.372 24.568 0 33.942l39.598 39.598c9.372 9.372 24.568 9.372 33.942 0l418.828-418.828c9.372-9.372 9.372-24.568 0-33.942l-418.828-418.828c-9.374-9.374-24.57-9.374-33.942 0z\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"hx_icon-list-content-box\">\n<div class=\"icon-list-text\"><strong>Outsole<\/strong> \u2013 The bottom layer that directly contacts the ground, designed for traction, durability, and wear resistance.<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"icon-list-text\">Typical materials: <a <span=\"\" href=\"#rubber\">Rubber<\/a>, <a <span=\"\" href=\"#TPR\">TPR<\/a>, and selected <a <span=\"\" href=\"#EVA\">EVA<\/a> outsole formulations.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"icon-list-item\">\n<div class=\"icon-list-wrapper\">\n<svg viewBox=\"0 0 512 1024\" width=\"512\" height=\"1024\" class=\"icon-list-icon\"><path d=\"M49.414 76.202l-39.598 39.596c-9.372 9.372-9.372 24.568 0 33.942l361.398 362.26-361.398 362.26c-9.372 9.372-9.372 24.568 0 33.942l39.598 39.598c9.372 9.372 24.568 9.372 33.942 0l418.828-418.828c9.372-9.372 9.372-24.568 0-33.942l-418.828-418.828c-9.374-9.374-24.57-9.374-33.942 0z\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"hx_icon-list-content-box\">\n<div class=\"icon-list-text\"><strong>Midsole<\/strong> \u2013 Positioned between the outsole and the insole, this layer provides cushioning, shock absorption, and stability.<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"icon-list-text\">Typical materials: <a href=\"#EVA\" <span>EVA<span><\/a>, <a href=\"#PU\" <span>PU<span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"icon-list-item\">\n<div class=\"icon-list-wrapper\">\n<svg viewBox=\"0 0 512 1024\" width=\"512\" height=\"1024\" class=\"icon-list-icon\"><path d=\"M49.414 76.202l-39.598 39.596c-9.372 9.372-9.372 24.568 0 33.942l361.398 362.26-361.398 362.26c-9.372 9.372-9.372 24.568 0 33.942l39.598 39.598c9.372 9.372 24.568 9.372 33.942 0l418.828-418.828c9.372-9.372 9.372-24.568 0-33.942l-418.828-418.828c-9.374-9.374-24.57-9.374-33.942 0z\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"hx_icon-list-content-box\">\n<div class=\"icon-list-text\"><strong>Insole (footbed)<\/strong> \u2013 The layer closest to the foot, engineered for comfort and ergonomic support.<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"icon-list-text\">Typical materials: <a <span=\"\" href=\"#PU\">PU<\/a> footbeds, <a <span=\"\" href=\"#EVA\">EVA<\/a> footbeds, and certain <a <span=\"\" href=\"#TPR\">TPR<\/a> insoles.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3>Types of Sole Materials<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"gs_icon_list_832 hx_icon-list gsbp-05779a6\">\n<li class=\"icon-list-item\" id=\"rubber\">\n<div class=\"icon-list-wrapper\">\n<svg viewBox=\"0 0 512 1024\" width=\"512\" height=\"1024\" class=\"icon-list-icon\"><path d=\"M49.414 76.202l-39.598 39.596c-9.372 9.372-9.372 24.568 0 33.942l361.398 362.26-361.398 362.26c-9.372 9.372-9.372 24.568 0 33.942l39.598 39.598c9.372 9.372 24.568 9.372 33.942 0l418.828-418.828c9.372-9.372 9.372-24.568 0-33.942l-418.828-418.828c-9.374-9.374-24.57-9.374-33.942 0z\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"hx_icon-list-content-box\">\n<div class=\"icon-list-text\"><strong>Rubber<\/strong> \u2013 Known for durability, slip resistance, and flexibility. It is widely used in athletic and work shoes where traction and wear resistance are critical. <\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"icon-list-text\">In these rubber outsoles, titanium dioxide primarily delivers excellent whiteness and opacity, while also acting as a minor reinforcing filler that can improve tensile strength and other mechanical properties. In rutile grade, TiO2 offers excellent UV resistance, helping extend the service life of rubber soles.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"icon-list-item\" id=\"EVA\">\n<div class=\"icon-list-wrapper\">\n<svg viewBox=\"0 0 512 1024\" width=\"512\" height=\"1024\" class=\"icon-list-icon\"><path d=\"M49.414 76.202l-39.598 39.596c-9.372 9.372-9.372 24.568 0 33.942l361.398 362.26-361.398 362.26c-9.372 9.372-9.372 24.568 0 33.942l39.598 39.598c9.372 9.372 24.568 9.372 33.942 0l418.828-418.828c9.372-9.372 9.372-24.568 0-33.942l-418.828-418.828c-9.374-9.374-24.57-9.374-33.942 0z\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"hx_icon-list-content-box\">\n<div class=\"icon-list-text\"><strong>EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate)<\/strong> \u2013 Lightweight and cushioning, EVA foams dominate midsoles in running and casual footwear. While they deliver comfort, their porous structure makes them prone to discoloration and uneven pigment distribution.  <\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"icon-list-text\">Titanium dioxide (TiO\u2082) not only blocks UV light to prevent yellowing but also improves pigment dispersion, ensuring a cleaner and more uniform appearance.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"icon-list-item\" id=\"PU\">\n<div class=\"icon-list-wrapper\">\n<svg viewBox=\"0 0 512 1024\" width=\"512\" height=\"1024\" class=\"icon-list-icon\"><path d=\"M49.414 76.202l-39.598 39.596c-9.372 9.372-9.372 24.568 0 33.942l361.398 362.26-361.398 362.26c-9.372 9.372-9.372 24.568 0 33.942l39.598 39.598c9.372 9.372 24.568 9.372 33.942 0l418.828-418.828c9.372-9.372 9.372-24.568 0-33.942l-418.828-418.828c-9.374-9.374-24.57-9.374-33.942 0z\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"hx_icon-list-content-box\">\n<div class=\"icon-list-text\"><strong>PU (Polyurethane) <\/strong>\u2013 Resilient and long\u2011lasting, PU midsoles provide strong shock absorption and support, making them popular in comfort and performance shoes. Light\u2011colored PU soles are prone to yellowing under heat and UV exposure. <\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"icon-list-text\">Titanium dioxide (TiO\u2082), especially in rutile grade, helps stabilize color, block UV radiation, and extend durability. While not a primary reinforcing filler, TiO2 also contributes to maintaining mechanical integrity by reducing degradation from light aging.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"icon-list-item\" id=\"TPR\">\n<div class=\"icon-list-wrapper\">\n<svg viewBox=\"0 0 512 1024\" width=\"512\" height=\"1024\" class=\"icon-list-icon\"><path d=\"M49.414 76.202l-39.598 39.596c-9.372 9.372-9.372 24.568 0 33.942l361.398 362.26-361.398 362.26c-9.372 9.372-9.372 24.568 0 33.942l39.598 39.598c9.372 9.372 24.568 9.372 33.942 0l418.828-418.828c9.372-9.372 9.372-24.568 0-33.942l-418.828-418.828c-9.374-9.374-24.57-9.374-33.942 0z\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"hx_icon-list-content-box\">\n<div class=\"icon-list-text\"><strong>TPR (Thermoplastic Rubber)<\/strong> \u2013 A cost\u2011efficient option that combines flexibility with ease of molding, often used in casual and children\u2019s footwear. <\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"icon-list-text\">In these soles, titanium dioxide (TiO\u2082) functions primarily as a white pigment, delivering brightness and opacity while improving dispersion to ensure a uniform appearance. It also helps maintain color stability against friction and light exposure, and rutile\u2011grade TiO\u2082 provides added UV protection, slowing down aging in a material that is otherwise less weather\u2011resistant than PU.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Across sole materials such as rubber, EVA, PU, and TPR, titanium dioxide consistently supports product quality by delivering whiteness and opacity, stabilizing color against yellowing, enhancing UV resistance, and improving pigment dispersion for a uniform appearance. In addition, rutile\u2011grade TiO2 helps extend durability by slowing down photo\u2011aging, ensuring that footwear maintains both performance and aesthetics over time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Titanium dioxide (TiO\u2082) is widely recognized in materials science for its ability to deliver bright whiteness, strong opacity, and resistance to UV\u2011induced aging. Beyond coatings, plastics, and rubber, it has also become a valued additive in footwear materials. In the footwear industry, TiO2 contributes not only to appearance but also to performance. It ensures soles [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":5286,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_gspb_post_css":".gsbp-05779a6,.gsbp-56db05f{list-style:none}ul.hx_icon-list li{display:flex;flex-direction:row;margin-block-end:var(--theme-content-spacing)}.hx_icon-list-content-box>div:nth-child(2){margin-block-start:calc(var(--theme-content-spacing)\/2)}.icon-list-wrapper svg{width:var(--theme-font-size);height:var(--theme-font-size);fill:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan)}","slim_seo":{"title":"Titanium Dioxide & Shoe Soles \u00b7 TiO2 EVA PU TPR - Outsole & Midsole","description":"Titanium dioxide (TiO\u2082) is widely recognized in materials science for its ability to deliver bright whiteness, strong opacity, and resistance to UV\u2011induced agin"}},"hx_use":[],"class_list":["post-4741","hx_use-case","type-hx_use-case","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"blocksy_meta":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.hxtio2.com\/ta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hx_use-case\/4741","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.hxtio2.com\/ta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hx_use-case"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.hxtio2.com\/ta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/hx_use-case"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.hxtio2.com\/ta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5286"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.hxtio2.com\/ta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4741"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"hx_use","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.hxtio2.com\/ta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hx_use?post=4741"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}