Air Permeability, Shock Absorption Ability, and Flexural Strength of 3D-Printed Perforated ABS Polymer Sheets with 3D-Knitted Fabric Cushioning for Sports Face Guard Applications

Sports face guards (FGs) are devices that protect athletes from maxillofacial injury or ensure rapid return to play following orofacial damage. Conventional FGs are uncomfortable to wear owing to stuffiness caused by poor ventilation and often slip off due to increase in weight due to absorption of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Polymers 2021-06, Vol.13 (11), p.1879
Main Authors: Aung, Thet, Churei, Hiroshi, Tanabe, Gen, Kinjo, Rio, Togawa, Kaito, Li, Chenyuan, Tsuchida, Yumi, Tun, Phyu, Hlaing, Shwe, Takahashi, Hidekazu, Ueno, Toshiaki
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ABS resins
Absorption
Accuracy
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene
Additive manufacturing
Air flow
Athletes
Composite materials
Cushioning
Digital technology
Fabrics
Flexural strength
Flow velocity
Guards
Honeycomb structures
Mechanical properties
Medical device industry
Medical equipment
Neoprene
Perforation
Permeability
Perspiration
Polycaprolactone
Polymers
Prostheses
Sheets
Sports
Textile composites
Three dimensional printing
Weight
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Summary:Sports face guards (FGs) are devices that protect athletes from maxillofacial injury or ensure rapid return to play following orofacial damage. Conventional FGs are uncomfortable to wear owing to stuffiness caused by poor ventilation and often slip off due to increase in weight due to absorption of moisture from perspiration, lowering players’ performance. Herein, combinations of 3D-printed perforated acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) polymer sheets and 3D-knitted fabrics with honeycomb structures as cushioning materials were investigated to balance better wearing feel and mechanical properties. The flexural strength, weight, and shock absorption ability of, and air flow rate through, the ABS sheets with five different perforation patterns were evaluated and compared with those of conventional FG materials comprising a combination of polycaprolactone sheets for the medical splint and polychloroprene rubber for the cushioning material. The ABS sheets having 10% open area and 2.52 mm round holes, combined with knitted fabric cushioning, exhibited the requisite shock absorbing, higher air permeability, and lower weight properties than the conventional materials. Our results suggest that FGs fabricated using combinations of 3D-printed perforated ABS polymer sheets and 3D-knitted fabrics with honeycomb structures may impart enhanced wearing comfort for athletes.
ISSN:2073-4360
2073-4360
DOI:10.3390/polym13111879