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Aung TK, Churei H, Tanabe G, Kinjo R, Togawa K, Li C, Tsuchida Y, Tun PS, Hlaing S, Takahashi H, Ueno T. 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. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 13:polym13111879. [PMID: 34198902 PMCID: PMC8201100 DOI: 10.3390/polym13111879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thet Khaing Aung
- Department of Sports Medicine/Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan; (T.K.A.); (H.C.); (G.T.); (R.K.); (K.T.); (C.L.)
| | - Hiroshi Churei
- Department of Sports Medicine/Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan; (T.K.A.); (H.C.); (G.T.); (R.K.); (K.T.); (C.L.)
| | - Gen Tanabe
- Department of Sports Medicine/Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan; (T.K.A.); (H.C.); (G.T.); (R.K.); (K.T.); (C.L.)
- Department of Maxillofacial Prosthetics, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan
| | - Rio Kinjo
- Department of Sports Medicine/Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan; (T.K.A.); (H.C.); (G.T.); (R.K.); (K.T.); (C.L.)
| | - Kaito Togawa
- Department of Sports Medicine/Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan; (T.K.A.); (H.C.); (G.T.); (R.K.); (K.T.); (C.L.)
| | - Chenyuan Li
- Department of Sports Medicine/Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan; (T.K.A.); (H.C.); (G.T.); (R.K.); (K.T.); (C.L.)
| | - Yumi Tsuchida
- Department of Oral Biomaterials Engineering, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan; (Y.T.); (H.T.)
| | - Phyu Sin Tun
- Moe Myitta Dental Clinic, No.117, Corner of 26th x 76th Street, Chaayetharsan Township, Mandalay 05024, Myanmar;
| | - Shwe Hlaing
- Department of Prosthodontics, The University of Dental Medicine, Mandalay, 62nd Street, Chan Mya Thazi Township, Mandalay 05041, Myanmar;
| | - Hidekazu Takahashi
- Department of Oral Biomaterials Engineering, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan; (Y.T.); (H.T.)
| | - Toshiaki Ueno
- Department of Sports Medicine/Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan; (T.K.A.); (H.C.); (G.T.); (R.K.); (K.T.); (C.L.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-03-5803-5867
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Churei H, Chowdhury RU, Yoshida Y, Tanabe G, Fukasawa S, Shirako T, Wada T, Uo M, Takahashi H, Ueno T. Use of the fiberglass reinforcement method in thermoplastic mouthguard materials to improve flexural properties for enhancement of functionality. Dent Mater J 2021; 40:1338-1344. [PMID: 33828002 DOI: 10.4012/dmj.2020-402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the application of fiberglass reinforcement method in thermoplastic mouthguard materials to improve flexural properties and adhesive strength. Commonly used two types of commercial mouth guard materials (ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer-based and polyolefin-based) were reinforced with glass fiber clothes by two-step hot press. Flexural strength and adhesive strength with each base material were examine via three-point bending test and delamination test, respectively. Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer-based fiberglass-reinforced material has significantly greater adhesive strength with base material and improvement of flexural properties compared with polyolefin-based material. These results suggest that flexural properties of both conventional commercial mouthguard materials were improved when the glass-fiber-reinforced method was applied to reinforce mouthguard materials, and more, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer was more desirable for the base material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Churei
- Department of Sports Medicine/Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Science, Tokyo Medical and Dental University
| | | | - Yuriko Yoshida
- Department of Sports Medicine/Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Science, Tokyo Medical and Dental University.,Department of Special Care Dentistry, Hiroshima University
| | - Gen Tanabe
- Department of Sports Medicine/Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Science, Tokyo Medical and Dental University
| | - Shintaro Fukasawa
- Department of Sports Medicine/Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Science, Tokyo Medical and Dental University
| | - Takahiro Shirako
- Department of Sports Medicine/Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Science, Tokyo Medical and Dental University
| | - Takahiro Wada
- Department of Advanced Biomaterials, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University
| | - Motohiro Uo
- Department of Advanced Biomaterials, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University
| | - Hidekazu Takahashi
- Department of Oral Biomaterials Engineering, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University
| | - Toshiaki Ueno
- Department of Sports Medicine/Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Science, Tokyo Medical and Dental University
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Wada T, Churei H, Yokose M, Iwasaki N, Takahashi H, Uo M. Application of Glass Fiber and Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Thermoplastics in Face Guards. Polymers (Basel) 2020; 13:polym13010018. [PMID: 33374594 PMCID: PMC7793102 DOI: 10.3390/polym13010018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Revised: 12/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Face guards (FGs) are protectors that allow for the rapid and safe return of athletes who are to play after sustaining traumatic facial injuries and orbital fractures. Current FGs require significant thickness to achieve sufficient shock absorption abilities. However, their weight and thickness render the FGs uncomfortable and reduce the field of vision of the athlete, thus hindering their performance. Therefore, thin and lightweight FGs are required. We fabricated FGs using commercial glass fiber-reinforced thermoplastic (GFRTP) and carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) resins to achieve these requirements and investigated their shock absorption abilities through impact testing. The results showed that an FG composed of CFRTP is thinner and lighter than a conventional FG and has sufficient shock absorption ability. The fabrication method of an FG comprising CFRTP is similar to the conventional method. FGs composed of commercial FRTPs exhibit adequate shock absorption abilities and are thinner and lower in weight as compared to conventional FGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takahiro Wada
- Department of Advanced Biomaterials, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan; (M.Y.); (M.U.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-03-5803-5469
| | - Hiroshi Churei
- Department of Sports Medicine/Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan;
| | - Mako Yokose
- Department of Advanced Biomaterials, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan; (M.Y.); (M.U.)
| | - Naohiko Iwasaki
- Department of Oral Biomaterials Development Engineering, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan; (N.I.); (H.T.)
| | - Hidekazu Takahashi
- Department of Oral Biomaterials Development Engineering, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan; (N.I.); (H.T.)
| | - Motohiro Uo
- Department of Advanced Biomaterials, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan; (M.Y.); (M.U.)
- Department of Materials Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7‑3‑1 Hongo, Bunkyo‑ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
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