Helmet changes color when force is applied

A helmet that changes color depending on the force applied thanks to a special crystal coating could be of great help to professional athletes and amateurs in first aid. Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a first model that can visually indicate the extent of a head injury.

Advantageous material

The plastic helmet made by the researchers changes color depending on the force exerted on the material. This makes it possible to quickly identify visually whether the wearer of the helmet may have sustained a head injury in a collision. The use of holographic lithography to create tonic crystals plays a key role here.

These crystals change color as soon as they are deformed. The implementation of the generated effect requires no electricity or additional energy input. What is also particularly advantageous for the wearer is that the coating is so light that the helmet hardly weighs any more. According to the scientists, it is not usually easy to produce such crystals.

Special spraying technique

However, the team from the University of Pennsylvania succeeded in developing a special spraying technique that is helpful for the mass production of their helmet. Especially in the field of many contact sports, helmets with optical signals could mean progress, because head injuries are not uncommon, especially among field hockey and football players.

Medical support staff could have injured players delivered to a hospital immediately, without wasting valuable time with an initial examination on the sidelines. The special helmet also lends itself to everyday use. Cyclists wearing a helmet coated in this way can also be treated more efficiently by paramedics.

Source: Pressetext.com