What Are NFL Footballs Made Of?

American footballs are made of cowhide leather, which gives them their distinctive brown color. The leather is tanned in a process that uses chromium salts.

Introduction

An NFL football is made of four different parts. The most important part is the bladder, which is made of natural or synthetic latex. The latex is wrapped in multiple layers of yarn, which are all covered by a pebbled leather or synthetic material. The final layer is a polymer paint that helps give the ball its color.

The Materials

NFL footballs are made of cowhide leather. The leather is tanned and then coated with polyurethane to make it waterproof. The material for the laces is also made of cowhide leather. The inside of the football is made of rubber bladder that is inflated with air.

The bladder

The bladder is the innermost part of the football and is usually made of latex. Latex is a rubber-like material that can be inflated and deflated. The bladder is what gives the football its shape and makes it possible for the football to be thrown and caught.

The laces

The laces on an NFL football are made of 100% cowhide. The cowhide is tanned and then dyed before it is cut into thin strips. The strips are then braided together to form the laces.

The outer shell

The outer shell of an NFL football is made of four different materials. The two inner layers are made of a PVC material, while the two outer layers are made from a synthetic rubber. The innermost layer is white, while the other three layers alternate in color between black and white. These layers are then laminated together using heat and pressure.

The Manufacturing Process

The process of making a football in the NFL is a long and tedious one. It all starts with the cowhide, which is tanned and turned into leather. The leather is then cut into small panels and stitched together to create the football’s outer shell. Once the shell is complete, it is filled with a rubber bladder and then air is pumped into it. The final step is to add the laces and then the football is ready to be used in a game.

The stitching

Once the leather has been cut into panels, it is time to stitch them together. This is done by hand, using a heavy-duty sewing machine. A football needs to be stitched together with strong thread, in order to stand up to the rigors of the game. The stitching must be uniform and tight, in order to ensure that the ball stays together during play.

The vulcanization

Vulcanization is a chemical process in which individual rubber molecules are joined together to create a stronger, more durable material. Vulcanized rubber is used in a variety of applications, including tires, hoses, and gaskets. It is also used to make footballs, which must be able to withstand the rigors of the game.

The vulcanization process begins with the selection of the raw materials. Natural rubber latex is the primary ingredient in footballs. This sticky, milky substance is derived from the sap of Hevea brasiliensis, a tree that grows in South America and Southeast Asia. Other ingredients include synthetic rubber, cotton linters (the short fibers that adhere to the seeds of cotton plants), and various chemicals.

The raw materials are combined and kneaded into a sticky mass called compound. The compound is then vulcanized, or cured, by heating it in a large autoclave (a pressure chamber). During vulcanization, sulfur cross-links form between the polymer chains in the compound, creating a stronger material.

After vulcanization, the compound is cooled and formed into its desired shape—in this case, an oval. The ball is then covered with two layers of cowhide leather or synthetic material and embroidered with the team logo.

Conclusion

As you can see, NFL footballs are made of several different materials, all of which contribute to the ball’s overall performance. The next time you watch a game, take a closer look at the football and see if you can identify all of the different materials that went into its construction.