"Breakthrough Foam Helmet Liner Proven to Reduce Brain Injuries by 30-Fold"
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Slashdot
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have developed a new helmet liner made from a lightweight foam of carbon nanotubes that is significantly more effective at absorbing impact energy than current helmet liners. This new material could greatly reduce the likelihood of concussions in military personnel and athletes by handling both linear and rotational kinetic energy forces without relying on sliding layers, which can fail under severe compression. The foam works through a unique deformation mechanism that allows it to dissipate energy more effectively, showing 30 times higher energy dissipation than traditional foams. The findings are published in the journal Experimental Mechanics.