Materials Project:
Changing What’s Inside the Helmet to Protect What’s Inside the Head
Do you know how unsafe it is for freeskiers to hit their heads multiple times in a day and not get a new helmet? Most ski helmets are made to withstand two or three small hits and one big hit. Two big hits to the head and lots of small hits are just too unsafe for the brain. Blows to the head are very dangerous and that’s why people wear helmets right? However if a skier takes many big blows to the head and doesn't replace the helmet he or she is compromising the integrity of the helmet. But who wants to spend time and money shopping for a new helmet all the time? Fortunately, there is a new material out there that will allow for a lot of hits to the helmet without any compromising.
Giro has come up with a new design for helmets that will improve the quality of life for the skiers who like take risks in the terrain park. These skiers spend their time in the terrain park, flying off huge jumps and messing around on the streets when the ski resort is closed. This helmet is called the soft shell helmet and was designed for freeskiers who experience soft and hard hits. The new technology is incredible. The helmet is comfortable, protective for hard and soft blows, as well as stylish for the freeskiers. What Giro has done is added a new type of lining to the helmet, which is called the dual density Vinyl Nitrile (VN) liner. According to Clark Foam Products Corp. “Vinyl Nitrile foams are closed cell products, generally of low-density construction exhibiting firm support, low attenuation characteristics and good durability as well as weather resistant…” This material was chosen because it would allow the freeskier who has more low impact hits on a daily basis to have a helmet that could take those hits and maintain structural integrity for future hits. This helmet is known for “bouncing” back. After a hit the foam and outer shell reshape which allows for more hits. Even after a large hit the helmet retains shape and structure unlike most helmets where hard hits compromise the helmet.
Do you know how unsafe it is for freeskiers to hit their heads multiple times in a day and not get a new helmet? Most ski helmets are made to withstand two or three small hits and one big hit. Two big hits to the head and lots of small hits are just too unsafe for the brain. Blows to the head are very dangerous and that’s why people wear helmets right? However if a skier takes many big blows to the head and doesn't replace the helmet he or she is compromising the integrity of the helmet. But who wants to spend time and money shopping for a new helmet all the time? Fortunately, there is a new material out there that will allow for a lot of hits to the helmet without any compromising.
Giro has come up with a new design for helmets that will improve the quality of life for the skiers who like take risks in the terrain park. These skiers spend their time in the terrain park, flying off huge jumps and messing around on the streets when the ski resort is closed. This helmet is called the soft shell helmet and was designed for freeskiers who experience soft and hard hits. The new technology is incredible. The helmet is comfortable, protective for hard and soft blows, as well as stylish for the freeskiers. What Giro has done is added a new type of lining to the helmet, which is called the dual density Vinyl Nitrile (VN) liner. According to Clark Foam Products Corp. “Vinyl Nitrile foams are closed cell products, generally of low-density construction exhibiting firm support, low attenuation characteristics and good durability as well as weather resistant…” This material was chosen because it would allow the freeskier who has more low impact hits on a daily basis to have a helmet that could take those hits and maintain structural integrity for future hits. This helmet is known for “bouncing” back. After a hit the foam and outer shell reshape which allows for more hits. Even after a large hit the helmet retains shape and structure unlike most helmets where hard hits compromise the helmet.
To understand how this new material works for a helmet we need to look deeper into what vinyl nitrile foam is. Vinyl nitrile foam is made up of a monomer called acrylonitrile. Acrylonitrile is a chemical compound with the formula C3H3N. At its molecular level it is a vinyl group linked to nitrile. To make the foam material you have to build up acrylonitrile like building blocks, which makes a polymer called polyacrylonitrile. Looking at the transformation on the molecular level it would look like this:
Acrylonitrile
Polyacrylonitrile
Polyacrylonitrile is a synthetic, semi-crystalline organic polymer resin with a melting point of above 300 degrees Celsius. This polymer is used for the production of many products but mainly fibers, such as the high-tech, popular carbon fiber.
So why does polyacrylonitrile work so well for this new helmet technology? Because of its physical properties. Polyacrylonitrile is a very versatile polymer. Polymers have a chain like molecular structure and tend to be flexible and durable. That is why polyacrylonitrile fiber makes such good foam material. Clark Foam Products Corp. say, “Vinyl nitrile foams are virtually indestructible, and they are excellent products for cushioning, vibration dampening, and shock absorption.” The polymer that makes up most foams is a network of small polymers. Even with heat, compression and wear and tear this network of polymers stays connected making is very reliable and durable.
This new “softshell” helmet may seem unreliable and kind of dangerous because of how flexible it is but according to Sean McCoy from Gear Junkie “It complies with CE EC 1077, a safety standard”. The CE EC 1077 is the industry standard in the United States. These standards state that the testing includes an impact that cannot exceed 250 gs, protection against sharp objects, different environmental weathering and other retention systems. So there is no need to worry the vinyl nitrile foam is safe and protective for all kinds of hits!
Vinyl nitrile foam is very versatile and should be considered as one of the utmost protective material to use for protection of the skull and brain. This polymer is a great discovery in the field of helmet protection and should be applied to other helmets. We all like to go out and have some fun. But it shouldn't cost so much money when we have to buy a new helmet for every time we bonk our heads. With the use of the vinyl nitrile foam our helmets will last longer, protect our heads, and allow for safe fun.
Works Cited
"EN CE Helmet Safety Standards Explained." XSportsProtective. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2014. <http://www.xsportsprotective.com/pages/en-ce-helmet-safety-standards-explained>.
Feinberg, Ashley. "This Soft-Shell Helmet Bounces Back With Every Hit." Gizmodo. N.p., 29 Jan. 2013. Web. 11 Dec. 2014. <http://gizmodo.com/5979988/a-soft-shell-helmet-that-bounces-back-with-every-hit>.
"Polyacrylonitrile." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 29 Nov. 2014. Web. 11 Dec. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyacrylonitrile>.
Regenold, Stephen. "Flexible, 'Soft-Shell' Helmet Debuts for Snowsports." Flexible, 'Soft-Shell' Helmet Debuts for Snowsports. N.p., 29 Jan. 2013. Web. 11 Dec. 2014. <http://gearjunkie.com/giro-soft-combyn-helmet>.
"SoftShell Construction." Giro. Giro, n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2014.
"Vinyl Nitrile Foam." Clark Foam Products Corp. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2014. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.clarkfoam.net%2Fvinyl_nitrile_foam_products.html>.
Images
http://www.tennoji-h.oku.ed.jp/tennoji/oka/OCDB/SyntheticFiber/polyacrylonitrile-iso-s.gif
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/Acrylonitrile-3D-balls.png
http://outsidemagazine.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83453140969e2017ee7ab45a1970d-pi
Polyacrylonitrile is a synthetic, semi-crystalline organic polymer resin with a melting point of above 300 degrees Celsius. This polymer is used for the production of many products but mainly fibers, such as the high-tech, popular carbon fiber.
So why does polyacrylonitrile work so well for this new helmet technology? Because of its physical properties. Polyacrylonitrile is a very versatile polymer. Polymers have a chain like molecular structure and tend to be flexible and durable. That is why polyacrylonitrile fiber makes such good foam material. Clark Foam Products Corp. say, “Vinyl nitrile foams are virtually indestructible, and they are excellent products for cushioning, vibration dampening, and shock absorption.” The polymer that makes up most foams is a network of small polymers. Even with heat, compression and wear and tear this network of polymers stays connected making is very reliable and durable.
This new “softshell” helmet may seem unreliable and kind of dangerous because of how flexible it is but according to Sean McCoy from Gear Junkie “It complies with CE EC 1077, a safety standard”. The CE EC 1077 is the industry standard in the United States. These standards state that the testing includes an impact that cannot exceed 250 gs, protection against sharp objects, different environmental weathering and other retention systems. So there is no need to worry the vinyl nitrile foam is safe and protective for all kinds of hits!
Vinyl nitrile foam is very versatile and should be considered as one of the utmost protective material to use for protection of the skull and brain. This polymer is a great discovery in the field of helmet protection and should be applied to other helmets. We all like to go out and have some fun. But it shouldn't cost so much money when we have to buy a new helmet for every time we bonk our heads. With the use of the vinyl nitrile foam our helmets will last longer, protect our heads, and allow for safe fun.
Works Cited
"EN CE Helmet Safety Standards Explained." XSportsProtective. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2014. <http://www.xsportsprotective.com/pages/en-ce-helmet-safety-standards-explained>.
Feinberg, Ashley. "This Soft-Shell Helmet Bounces Back With Every Hit." Gizmodo. N.p., 29 Jan. 2013. Web. 11 Dec. 2014. <http://gizmodo.com/5979988/a-soft-shell-helmet-that-bounces-back-with-every-hit>.
"Polyacrylonitrile." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 29 Nov. 2014. Web. 11 Dec. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyacrylonitrile>.
Regenold, Stephen. "Flexible, 'Soft-Shell' Helmet Debuts for Snowsports." Flexible, 'Soft-Shell' Helmet Debuts for Snowsports. N.p., 29 Jan. 2013. Web. 11 Dec. 2014. <http://gearjunkie.com/giro-soft-combyn-helmet>.
"SoftShell Construction." Giro. Giro, n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2014.
"Vinyl Nitrile Foam." Clark Foam Products Corp. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2014. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.clarkfoam.net%2Fvinyl_nitrile_foam_products.html>.
Images
http://www.tennoji-h.oku.ed.jp/tennoji/oka/OCDB/SyntheticFiber/polyacrylonitrile-iso-s.gif
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/Acrylonitrile-3D-balls.png
http://outsidemagazine.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83453140969e2017ee7ab45a1970d-pi
Reflection
The materials project has allowed me to see the importance and the depth in which our world is made up of. The chemistry of materials in the past has led us to save lives, build our economy, and change our society. The past chemistry has help people grow up to today. The materials made in the past have been building blocks and connections for today's materials. We have gained knowledge about the chemistry of materials that allows us to make improvements and to find better substitutes. My project for example, shows that there is a different material that is better for helmets used by a type of skier. The improvement of helmets has made it safer all because of this material. If we learn and test materials we will have more knowledge and will be able to create and find new things. I hope that today's materials will lead us to bigger and better materials in the future. It is important for students, such as myself, to learn about the chemistry of materials and how we can make them better or alter them so that in the future we can help the world.
The study of materials and the structure of their essence allows us to determine certain properties that are very helpful. On each level, atomic, molecular, microscopic, and macroscopic, matter builds up in ways. This is what makes the chemistry of materials. The way the matter builds up from the atomic level defines its properties and the type of material it is. For example, sulfur atoms bond as a covalent bond and by knowing the structure of the bond allows for identification of the its properties. Knowing that sulfur has a covalent bond I know that it will not melt easily and will not be conductive. These properties are very important in being able to discover replacement materials and improve on materials. Studying matter on each level and identifying its properties is what will lead us into the future of chemistry.
The study of materials and the structure of their essence allows us to determine certain properties that are very helpful. On each level, atomic, molecular, microscopic, and macroscopic, matter builds up in ways. This is what makes the chemistry of materials. The way the matter builds up from the atomic level defines its properties and the type of material it is. For example, sulfur atoms bond as a covalent bond and by knowing the structure of the bond allows for identification of the its properties. Knowing that sulfur has a covalent bond I know that it will not melt easily and will not be conductive. These properties are very important in being able to discover replacement materials and improve on materials. Studying matter on each level and identifying its properties is what will lead us into the future of chemistry.
Pitch
Hi I’m Ellen Campbell
Do you get scared when your child goes our skiing or snowboarding that they might hit their head? That they have compromised their helmets and using it again and again? Well there is a new helmet technology that is being used in some ski and hockey helmets. These helmets have been designed with a material that is more protective for sports that take hits to the head. This material is called vinyl nitrate foam. This foam is made up of a polymer called polyacrylonitrile, which is very flexible and durable. On a molecular level the polymer has a chain like structure which make it very difficult to brake but can bend with strength making it a perfect foam material. Clark Foam Products Corp. say, “Vinyl nitrile foams are virtually indestructible, and they are excellent products for cushioning, vibration dampening, and shock absorption.” Because of this material helmets maintain their structural integrity even after taking many hits to the head. There is no need to worry about helmets being compromised after taking one blow to the head with this technology. I am asking for $500 Osprey dollars for your investment so that you can put this helmet on your kids today and you wont have to stress about their head safety tomorrow.
Do you get scared when your child goes our skiing or snowboarding that they might hit their head? That they have compromised their helmets and using it again and again? Well there is a new helmet technology that is being used in some ski and hockey helmets. These helmets have been designed with a material that is more protective for sports that take hits to the head. This material is called vinyl nitrate foam. This foam is made up of a polymer called polyacrylonitrile, which is very flexible and durable. On a molecular level the polymer has a chain like structure which make it very difficult to brake but can bend with strength making it a perfect foam material. Clark Foam Products Corp. say, “Vinyl nitrile foams are virtually indestructible, and they are excellent products for cushioning, vibration dampening, and shock absorption.” Because of this material helmets maintain their structural integrity even after taking many hits to the head. There is no need to worry about helmets being compromised after taking one blow to the head with this technology. I am asking for $500 Osprey dollars for your investment so that you can put this helmet on your kids today and you wont have to stress about their head safety tomorrow.