Thank You for all the great and quick responses. I think I will stick with
the surlyn. And I might just put that face mask on and go bowling, golfing
or have someone shoot at me just to give it the test:-)
Question:
Good Morning List,
I am fabricating a face mask for a soccer player. I am wondering what the
plastic and thickness of choice is?
I was considering Surlyn, but was not sure of it’s possible shattering from
high impact blows. Then poly-carbonate came to mind, but am unsure of vacuum
forming qualities.
Thank you for your input.
Jeff A. Zeller, CP, Cfo
Spectrum Prosthetics & Orthotics Inc.
2135 Pine street
Redding, CA 96001
Jeff, we use a material called UVex high impact plastic sheet, 3/16″ – 1/4″
thickness for collegiate basketball and soccer players. Works well, easy to
fabricate and adjust. Good luck.
You are much better Laminating this item, we used to make masks for hockey
players, always laminated carbon fiber. Material failure is the worst
thing that can happen to you here.
Hi Jeff,
I don’t think you would have any problem with Surlyn shattering – they
use it for bullet-proof glass and golf balls. (And we had a tech once who
used to whack it pretty darn hard with a hammer – no shatter!) I remember
being told by someone that the impact resistance actually increases with
decreasing thickness but I don’t remember where that came from so I’d
research that further before assuming too much. I don’t know much about
poly-carbonate.
Hi Jeff,
Contact John Fisher, he has made several. He works at Cornell O and P in
Salem, Ma.
Good Luck,
Pat
fisherbgt@comcast.net
Thermolyn 3mm
I have used 3-4mm vivak as well
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Hi Jeff,
I used surlyn, but I am interested in the other responses…
Mr. Zeller,
There are various types of plastics you might use to create a sports mask.
If you are not comfortable using Surlyn you can use vivak and the thickness
should be around 3/16″ thick.
Hope this helps
Surlyn is used to cover bowling pins, so you have to imagine the shatter
resistance is high.
Polycarbonate is also shatter-resistant.
Both should be dried prior to vacuum forming as they are hygroscopic and
will form tiny bubbles in the plastic when heated. Drying involves long
storage at slightly elevated temp. When I used polycarbonate for check
sockets I kept plastic sheets in a cabinet heated with a flood light.
Tried to not use any plastic that hadn’t been in at least a week, but time
required depends on your environment and how the material stored prior to
you buying.
They both form well. I’d use a warm dry model.
You didn’t say what you’re trying to protect. Would make a difference as to
thickness. The surlyn is less stiff, so usually requires thicker material.
Hope this helps.
