title: Flexural properties and shock-absorbing capabilities of new face guard materials reinforced with fiberglass cloth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Experimental materials incorporating fiberglass cloth were used to develop a thin and lightweight face guard (FG). This study aims to evaluate the effect of fiberglass reinforcement on the flexural and shock absorption properties compared with conventional thermoplastic materials.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four commercial 3.2-mm and 1.6-mm medical splint materials (Aquaplast, Polyform, Co-polymer, and Erkodur) and two experimental materials were examined for use in FGs. The experimental materials were prepared by embedding two or four sheets of a plain woven fiberglass cloth on both surfaces of 1.5-mm Aquaplast. The flexural strength and flexural modulus were determined using a three-point bending test. The shock absorption properties were evaluated for a 5200-N impact load using the first peak intensity with a load cell system and the maximum stress with a film sensor system.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The flexural strength (74.6 MPa) and flexural modulus (6.3 GPa) of the experimental material with four sheets were significantly greater than those of the 3.2-mm commercial specimens, except for the flexural strength of one product. The first peak intensity (515 N) and maximum stress (2.2 MPa) of the experimental material with four sheets were significantly lower than those of the commercial 3.2-mm specimens, except for one product for each property. These results suggest that the thickness and weight of the FG can be reduced using the experimental fiber-reinforced material.
authors.affiliation: Sports Medicine/Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Hidekazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Churei
authors.forename: Naohiko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Iwasaki
authors.forename: Toshiaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ueno
mesh_terms: D002266:Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium / Q000737:chemistry; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D004867:Equipment Design; D005145:Face; D005898:Glass / Q000737:chemistry*; D006260:Head Protective Devices; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D010969:Plastics / Q000737:chemistry*; D018583:Pliability; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry; D020959:Polyethylene / Q000737:chemistry; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates / Q000737:chemistry; D011126:Polypropylenes / Q000737:chemistry; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; D011091:Polyesters; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; C062423:Polyform; D011126:Polypropylenes; C009753:fiberglass; C016240:polycaprolactone; D020959:Polyethylene; D002266:Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium