| abstract |
The disclosure relates to articles of footwear (100) and components thereof, including outsoles (112), which can be used in conditions normally conducive to the accumulation of soil on the outsoles (112). In particular, the disclosure relates to articles of footwear (100) and components thereof including an outsole (112) with a material (116) including a hydrogel, where the material (116) defines an external surface or side of the outsole (112). The outsoles (112) can prevent or reduce the accumulation of soil on the footwear (100) during wear on unpaved surfaces such as sporting fields. In particular, the disclosure relates to an outsole for an article of footwear, the outsole comprising: a first surface of the outsole configured to be ground-facing; and a second surface of the outsole opposing the first surface, the outsole configured to be secured to an upper for an article of footwear; wherein the outsole comprises a polymeric material defining at least a portion of the first surface, and the polymeric material has a wet-state glass transition temperature and a dry-state glass transition temperature, each as characterized by the Glass Transition Temperature Test with the Neat Polymeric material Sampling Process, and wherein the wet-state glass transition temperature is more than 6°C less than the dry-state glass transition temperature. |