Can shoe soles scratch a vinyl record? -- 2
Budget: €12 – €18 EUR
I need a concise, evidence-based investigation that tells me whether the patterned tread on modern rubber shoe soles can physically scratch or otherwise damage a vinyl record. I’m after real scientific backing rather than casual opinions, so the work should lean on peer-reviewed tribology, polymer science, and surface-wear literature. Where data are scarce, please outline an experiment I could replicate at home or in a small lab—think controlled contact, measurable load, and before-versus-after surface inspection with at least a magnifier or, ideally, a low-cost microscope set-up.
Key outcomes I expect: a brief literature scan summarising known hardness values and abrasion properties of common rubber compounds versus vinyl; an explanation of how tread geometry might focus pressure points; and a clear conclusion on the risk level along with any assumptions and limitations. Rich citations (DOIs or links) are essential so I can verify every claim.
Key outcomes I expect: a brief literature scan summarising known hardness values and abrasion properties of common rubber compounds versus vinyl; an explanation of how tread geometry might focus pressure points; and a clear conclusion on the risk level along with any assumptions and limitations. Rich citations (DOIs or links) are essential so I can verify every claim.