Personal protective equipmentNew foam technology to lead to better protective equipment

Published 17 June 2015

Foam. We wear it. We sit on it. We sleep on it. We even use it to protect ourselves. Whether it is a football helmet, hospital bed, knee pad, or body armor, the foam it contains plays a critical role in making that product both comfortable and safe. Can that foam, however, be transformed into something significantly better, safer and more comfortable? An FSU researcher has developed a brand new, high-performing auxetic foam with a unique ability to get thicker, rather than thinner, when stretched. In practical terms, this counter-intuitive behavior, totally opposite to that of conventional foam, leads to many enhanced materials properties including a better and more comfortable fit that adjusts on the fly.

Foam. We wear it. We sit on it. We sleep on it. We even use it to protect ourselves. Whether it is a football helmet, hospital bed, knee pad, or body armor, the foam it contains plays a critical role in making that product both comfortable and safe. Can that foam, however, be transformed into something significantly better, safer and more comfortable?

Changchun “Chad” Zeng with Florida State University’s High Performance Materials Institute (HPMI) says yes, and his brand new, high-performing auxetic foam is proving the point as it heads to the marketplace through a license agreement with Auxadyne LLC.

“We know what is not working with current products and technology, and what it is going to take to make it better,” said Zeng. “For example, the socks that amputees currently use to attach prosthetic devices do not adjust to limb shape and volume, creating lots of problems. My invention solves those issues.”

An FSU release reports that part of what makes Zeng’s auxetic foam unique is its ability to get thicker, rather than thinner, when stretched. In practical terms, this counter-intuitive behavior, totally opposite to that of conventional foam, leads to many enhanced materials properties including a better and more comfortable fit that adjusts on the fly.

Zeng’s auxetic foam has its roots in a multiyear, multimillion dollar project with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA Innovation Initiative project was aimed at addressing the shortcomings of current prosthetic socket systems through the development, testing and delivery of “Socket Optimized for Comfort with Advanced Technology” (SOCAT) prototypes.

“Auxadyne’s initial focus is going to be medical device bracing and pressure relieving applications, as well as protective sports, military, law enforcement and first responder equipment,” said Joseph Condon, president of Auxadyne LLC. “As we market to these key industries, we will also be involved in a collaborative effort with HPMI to develop a next-generation prosthetic sock based on auxetic foam that will improve the quality of life of our amputees.”

The sports equipment industry in particular could take advantage of the new foam technology to improve the impact absorption and overall comfort of the different protective gear that athletes must wear, Condon said.

“I’m a hockey player myself, so I know personally the importance of protective gear that can safely absorb a hit and still let me compete at the top of my game,” Condon said. “This new foam technology will do that by being a higher performing and safer product.”

Condon anticipates an immediate benefit to the medical device and protective equipment industries while the collaborative project for the development of the new prosthetic sock is underway.

“It’s hard not to get excited when you think of all the good this technology can do for people,” Condon said.