The variety of soccer balls refers to the size, design and weight differences between models. Plus, the materials used for the construction of the soccer balls are also very diverse, directly influencing the features of the finite products as well as the price. Consider the following technical details that few people know about the structure of the soccer balls.
The surface of soccer balls consists of several coverings that are not made of natural leather as it seems at first sight but rather from synthetic materials that keep the balls lightweight even when it’s damp outside. Synthetic leather is the most commonly used, being made of poly vinyl chloride or PVC and polyurethane. Even the varieties of artificial leather that soccer balls are manufactured of are too many in number to know and differentiate.
Depending on the design of the soccer balls, the various segments of the exterior cover, also known as the panels, present specific features. A soccer ball can be made of 16, 26 or 32 panels, with the latest being the official variant for most leagues and championships. Yet, the others are popular in all sorts of major leagues as well, mainly in England and Scotland. Soccer balls create nearly perfect spheres once the panels are sewn together and inflated.
A special material called the lining is used between the internal bladder that holds the air and the outer covering. These intermediary layer can be made of polyester or laminated cotton, thus contributing to the strength and the bounce properties of the finite product. For professional soccer balls, up to four or five linings are used, while promotional items and practice balls contain fewer such structures.
As for the bladders that actually keep the soccer balls inflated, differences do appear here as well, particularly because of the nature of the materials. Soccer balls can be made either from latex or butyl. While natural rubber or latex creates a great surface tension, the tiny pores allow deflation over a certain period of time.
In order to keep the ball practical, you’ll have to re-inflate it at least once a week. Butyl soccer balls present no air retention problem, but require valves to keep the air inside.
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Tags: league, soccer, soccer_ball, soccer_field, sport