The variety of soccer balls refers to the size, design and weight differences between models. The diversity also extends to the materials soccer balls are made of and the features of the final product. Here are a few technical details on the structure and the making of soccer balls that many of us know nothing of when having fun in a nice game.
Several covering layers are included in the surface structure of the soccer balls and they are not made of natural leather as it seems at first sight but they are manufactured from lightweight plastic that keeps the balls dry. Poly vinyl chlorine or PVC and polyurethane or PU are the main materials used for synthetic leather production. Even the types of artificial leather that soccer balls are manufactured of are too many in number to know and differentiate.
The specific features in the exterior cover of soccer balls consist of several segments known as panels. 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 encountered with some leagues in England and Scotland. Soccer balls create nearly perfect spheres once the panels are sewn together and inflated.
Between the external covering and the internal bladder that holds the air, soccer balls have some special material incorporated, which is called the lining. Laminated cotton or polyester are normally used for the intermediary layer, and they play an important part in the bouncing and strength features of the ball. In the professional design of soccer balls, up to five different linings can be used, although practice balls include fewer linings.
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 manufactured either from butyl or latex. While natural rubber or latex creates a great surface tension, the tiny pores in the structure of this material cause the soccer balls to deflate.
In order to keep the ball practical, you’ll have to re-inflate it at least once a week. Butyl soccer balls on the other hand have an excellent air retention capacity and rely on valves for this process.
About the Author:
Jack Sawbridge started kicking the soccer ball at the age of seven. At the age of twelve he became a member of a soccer team. His passion in this kind of sports lead him to write various information about soccer balls. If this article interests you, you may want to read another article written by Jack about Official Soccer Ball.
