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Introduction
The snowboarding industry has been on a continuous growth trajectory for some years now. As a result, there has been an increasing demand for new and innovative snowboard designs. Several companies are seeking to create more comfortable and durable snowboards that are efficient in navigating different terrains. A significant breakthrough in their endeavors has been the use of innovative materials in designing snowboards. In this article, I will dive into what innovative materials are being utilized in new snowboard designs and how they make them unique.
Carbon Fiber
Carbon fiber is one of the most popular innovative materials that have been used in the snowboard industry for some years now. Carbon fiber is a lightweight and durable material that provides an excellent option for snowboarders. The material is very strong, and it doesn’t add weight to the snowboard, making it an ideal option for manufacturers. Carbon fiber is used mainly in designing the snowboard’s composite fiberglass reinforcement layers, providing the board with strength and stability.
Fiberglass
Fiberglass is among the most frequently applied materials in the snowboarding industry. Standard snowboard designs will include fiberglass as the primary material for the board’s top sheet. The material is known for its durability and resilience, which explains why it’s incorporated into designing snowboards. The fiberglass is often layered between resin and wood, giving the board more flexibility and preventing cracking or splitting.
Bamboo
Bamboo is a rapidly emerging material in the snowboarding industry. Manufacturers are incorporating bamboo into the snowboard design for its lightweight and strong features. Bamboo snowboards are emerging as a sustainable alternative to conventional snowboards made of wood or other materials that are not biodegradable. Bamboo significantly enhances the board’s sustainability, reducing the environmental impact associated with producing snowboards.
Kevlar
Kevlar is a heavily resistant material widely known for its excellent abrasion and strength features. Kevlar is primarily utilized in designing the board’s sidewalls, particularly where it provides support to the edges. The material significantly increases the board’s strength, particularly in its vulnerable parts, reducing the effect of wear and tear.
Core Materials
Various materials are used in designing the core material of a snowboard, each with different properties. The core material is an essential aspect of the snowboard design, and its effectiveness plays a key role in the overall boarding experience.
Wood
The wood core material is a long-standing tradition in snowboarding. Companies have used wood in making snowboarding for many years. The wood used needs to be of the highest quality to ensure the snowboard has excellent pop, flex and durability features. Wood provides great stability for snowboards, making it the go-to material for many manufacturers.
Bamboo
Bamboo coring has become a popular alternative to wood in some snowboard designs. The material’s strength and flexibility are combined to deliver a good snowboarding experience. It is used in different layers to provide varying degrees of flex to the board.
Carbon
Carbon composites are on the rise, and manufacturers are applying them to snowboard core design to increase the board’s strength-to-weight ratio. The company laminates carbon fiber with other materials to deliver a stiffer snowboard that is lightweight yet has increased stability.
Polyurethane
The polyurethane core material provides a unique take on the snowboard design. It represents a departure from conventional wood and carbon fiber cores, offering a lightweight yet robust and responsive snowboard. Boards designed with polyurethane are more flexible, making them ideal for park terrain and freestyle maneuvers.
Titanal
Titanal is a hard, durable metal alloy used in designing snowboards. The alloy is lightweight and provides stability to the board, particularly on ice or hard-packed snow. Manufacturers apply titanal in sandwich-style constructions where it’s sandwiched between other materials to enhance the snowboard’s durability.
Conclusion
The snowboarding industry has undergone significant growth in recent years, and technological advancements have enabled manufacturers to create innovative snowboard designs that are more efficient in navigating different terrains. The use of innovative materials, by manufacturers, to design snowboards is a step towards developing more durable and sustainable snowboards. There is still much to discover surrounding the best materials, including new materials emerging from R&D labs, to enhance future snowboard designs. This industry will continue to grow, and only time will tell which innovations will deliver more efficient and sustainable snowboarding experiences.
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