Application of Glass Fiber and Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Thermoplastics in Face Guards.

Takahiro Wada,Hiroshi Churei,Mako Yokose,Motohiro Uo,Hidekazu Takahashi,Naohiko Iwasaki

doi:10.3390/polym13010018

Takahiro Wada, Hiroshi Churei + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13010018

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Abstract

Face guards (FGs) are protectors that allow for the rapid and safe return of athletes who are to play after sustaining traumatic facial injuries and orbital fractures. Current FGs require significant thickness to achieve sufficient shock absorption abilities. However, their weight and thickness render the FGs uncomfortable and reduce the field of vision of the athlete, thus hindering their performance. Therefore, thin and lightweight FGs are required. We fabricated FGs using commercial glass fiber-reinforced thermoplastic (GFRTP) and carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) resins to achieve these requirements and investigated their shock absorption abilities through impact testing. The results showed that an FG composed of CFRTP is thinner and lighter than a conventional FG and has sufficient shock absorption ability. The fabrication method of an FG comprising CFRTP is similar to the conventional method. FGs composed of commercial FRTPs exhibit adequate shock absorption abilities and are thinner and lower in weight as compared to conventional FGs.

Highlights

In contact sports such as soccer, rugby, and American football, maxillofacial traumatic injuries can occur [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]
A face guard (FG) is a piece of protective equipment worn by an athlete suffering a maxillofacial injury and allows for the earlier and safer return of the injured athlete to the sport
A decrease in maximum pressure implies a good dispersion of impact. These results suggest that carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) possesses suitable shock absorption properties for application in FGs despite being relatively thin

Summary

Introduction

In contact sports such as soccer, rugby, and American football, maxillofacial traumatic injuries can occur [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]. A face guard (FG) is a piece of protective equipment worn by an athlete suffering a maxillofacial injury and allows for the earlier and safer return of the injured athlete to the sport. An FG must fulfill the following three requirements: (i) protect the player from re-injury (protection ability), (ii) avoid injury to other players (safety), and (iii) avoid narrowing the player’s field of vision (maintain performance) [16]. Any effect on the field of vision must be minimized to maintain the performance (requirement (iii)), which is illustrated by the clinical effectiveness of the FG design based on objective data from visual field tests [20] Caps and sports spectacles [19].” any effect on the field of vision must be minimized to maintain the performance (requirement (iii)), which is illustrated by the clinical effectiveness of the FG design based on objective data from visual field tests [20]

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