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. 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 may appear at first sight but rather from synthetic materials that keep the balls lightweight even when it’s damp outside. 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. There can be 32, 26 or 16 panels with the mention that 32-panel variant is normally used in the majority of official games. 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.
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.
Differences of material do exist in the structure of the bladders as well. Soccer balls can be manufactured either from butyl or latex. While the surface tension brought by latex or natural rubber is unparalleled, the tiny pores in the structure of this material cause the soccer balls to deflate.
This means that you’ll have to re-inflate the ball at least once a week to maintain pressure and keep the ball practical. Butyl soccer balls on the other hand have an excellent air retention capacity and rely on valves for this process.
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