DOI: 10.1177/026248938700600301 ISSN:
Shock Mitigating Foams, 1. Structure and Property Relationships
M.O.W. Richardson, A.H.M. Al-Hassani- Organic Chemistry
- Polymers and Plastics
As a precursor to the custom manufacture of shock mitigating foams for helmet liners, assessments are required of the essential structure and property inter-relationships. This paper establishes a rationale for developing such systems in the context of using them for minimising the destructive forces resulting from single heavy impact (crash) and/or repeated light impact (buffeting).
The basic chemistry of polyurethane foam is reviewed, along with physical structure and mechanical property aspects. Methods of predicting impact behaviour from static/dynamic tests are highlighted, including a review of how continuum theory may be applied in practical situations.