The ball that won Spain the Euro 2012 final yesterday was a brand new 'Tango 12' which 'feels like denim', britishplastics.co.uk reports.
The Euro 2012 tournament might be over, but it's just the start for the new Adidas Tango 12 football; samples of which were supplied for the entire competition.
After two years of intensive testing - in which the ball was used by professional and amateur footballers in eight countries - not to mention 'comprehensive lab trials', the resulting ball boasts a new design and denim-like surface texture to allow better control.
Said to be 'fast, robust and precise', the Tango 12 outer shell comprises five polyurethane layers. The first is an 'adhesion coating' that glues the middle of the ball to the outer layers. The next is a synactic foam layer, containing millions of tiny, gas-filled cells that allows the ball to more quickly regain its shape once it's been kicked.
The final three polyurethane layers help to prevent abrasion but are sufficiently elastic that the ball's appearance should remain intact for a long time. The ball is bonded in such a way that moisture cannot be absorbed - useful given the torrential rain experienced in Ukraine - thus it is almost entirely waterproof.
Swedish national, Johan Elmander, tested the ball and was impressed - telling Advancing Adhesives: "I really like the new structure because it provides good grip. The ball's weight is also optimal, making it easy to control."
Author: Elizabeth Smythe
Date: 2nd July 2012
