Evaluation of the Performance of Helmet Prototypes Fabricated from Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Composites Filled with Natural Resource

Abstract

The performance of helmet prototypes fabricated from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene composites filled with oil palm empty fruit bunch fibers was evaluated. The fibers were produced using a milling procedure, while the composites were fabricated using a single-screw extrusion. The physical characteristics of the produced fibers, which are water content, size, and density, were investigated. In addition, the mechanical properties of the produced helmets, including shock absorption, yield stress, frequency, and head injury criterion (HIC), were examined. The impact strength of the produced helmets increases with the rise of filler content. In addition, the helmets were also able to withstand a considerable pressure such that the transmitted pressure was far under the maximum value acceptable by the human skull. The present work also found that HICs exhibited by the investigated helmet prototypes fulfill all the practical guidelines as permitted by the Indonesian government. In terms of novelty, such innovation can be considered the first invention in Indonesia since the endorsement of the use of motorcycle helmets.

Keywords: acrylonitrile butadiene styrene; mechanical properties; natural fillers; oil palm.

Figure 1

Design of the presently proposed helmet (a) front; (b) side and (c) back views.

Figure 2

Morphology of the currently produced OPEFB.

Figure 3

Presently proposed helmet prototype: (a) above and (b) side views.

Figure 4

Typical head injury criterion curves in accordance with SN1, with testing conditions of (a) −20 °C and (b) 50 °C. Other data for SN2 and SN3 are provided in the supporting document, A1.