FIBER REINFORCED THERMOPLASTIC ORTHOTICS

LONG LEG BRACING AFFORDS AMBULATION AND A REDUCTION IN DEFORMITY TO INDIVIDUALS WITH PARALYSIS OR WEAKNESS. HOWEVER, THE MAJORITY OF BRACES ARE MADE OF STEEL AND ARE QUITE HEAVY. FOR CHILDREN, BRACES CAN CONSTITUTE UP TO 40% OF THEIR TOTAL WEIGHT. THE PROPOSED RESEARCH WILL UTILIZE RECENT ADVANCES IN THE FIELD OF REINFORCED THERMOPLASTICS TO INVESTIGATE LOW TEMPERATURE THERMOFORMABLEMATERIALS FOR USE IN THE FABRICATION OF LIGHTWEIGHT BRACES. ALLIED CORPORATION'S ULTRALIGHT SPECTRA 1000 FIBERS WILL BE IMPREGNATED WITH THERMOPLASTIC RESINS. THE RESULTING COMPOSITES WILL BE TESTED FOR STIFFNESS AND STRENGTH REQUIREMENTS, AS DETERMINED BY COMPUTER MODELLING. PROMISING MATERIALS WILL BE FABRICATED INTO TUBES, USING TECHNIQUES WHICH DEPEND ON THE PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SELECTED MATERIALS. THESE TUBES ARE EXPECTED TO BE 50% LIGHTER THAN CURRENTLY USED UPRIGHTS. A PROTOTYPE CHILD'S BRACE WILL BE CONSTRUCTED, AND A CHILD WILL BE TESTED FOR ENERGY EXPENDITURE IN THE PROTOTYPE AND CONVENTIONAL BRACES IN ORDER TO QUANTIFY THE BENEFITS INCURRED BY REDUCED WEIGHT.