Development of soft epoxy foam for protective headwear

Abstract

The purpose of the present study is developing a novel protective headwear based on the strain rate effect of soft epoxy foam. Firstly, the strain rate and temperature effects on compressive property of soft epoxy foam were investigated. In order to increase the strain rate dependence on compressive property, the soft epoxy foams were fabricated with an soft epoxy resin whose compound rate of main and curing agents was shifted from stoichiometric ratio. Compression tests in wide range of strain rate were performed in several temperatures to evaluate strain rate and temperature effects on compressive property of the foam. In addition, impact tests assuming a head impact in daily life suggested that the proposed epoxy foams are effective as a cushioning material of a headwear.