Multi-axially stretchable polymer shock absorbing pad

Abstract

Disclosed is a multi-axial stretchable, viscoelastic, shock-attenuating elastomeric pad or fabric comprising a polymeric gel forming an inner core. The polymeric gel may be sandwiched between two opposed layers of multi-axial stretchable fabric having open ends or enclosed within an envelope having opposed layers of multi-axial stretchable fabric whereby impact can be absorbed and dissipated.

1 . A multi-axial stretchable pad comprising; 
 a first and a second opposed multi-axial stretchable layers; and    a shock absorbing a polymer gel residing between the first and second opposed multi-axial stretchable substrate layers.    
   
   
       2 . The multi-axial stretchable pad of  claim 1 , wherein the layers are formed from a resilient polymeric material.  
   
   
       3 . The multi-axial stretchable pad of  claim 1 , wherein the opposed layers are sealed to form an envelope containing the shock absorbing a polymer gel.  
   
   
       4 . The multi-axial stretchable pad of  claim 1 , wherein the layers are formed from a woven material.  
   
   
       5 . The multi-axial stretchable pad of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric material comprises at least greater than 50% by weight of an epoxidized vegetable oil, a thermoplastic polymer; and a prepolymer.  
   
   
       6 . The multi-axial stretchable pad of  claim 5 , further including an activator.  
   
   
       7 . The multi-axial stretchable pad of  claim 6 , wherein the activator is an alkyl tin compound.  
   
   
       8 . The multi-axial stretchable pad of  claim 5 , wherein the epoxidized vegetable oil is selected from the group consisting of soybean oil, linseed oil, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       9 . The multi-axial stretchable pad of  claim 5 , wherein the prepolymer comprises an isocyanate selected from the group of aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, araliphatic, aromatic, heterocyclic polyisocyaniates and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       10 . The multi-axial stretchable pad of  claim 5 , wherein in the thermoplastic polymer is substantially free of a polyurethane.  
   
   
       11 . The multi-axial stretchable pad of  claim 5 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer comprises a polydiene.  
   
   
       12 . The multi-axial stretchable pad of  claim 5 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer is a polybutadiene.  
   
   
       13 . The multi-axial stretchable pad of  claim 5 , wherein the polymeric gel comprises on a percent weight basis of the gel at least greater than about 50% of a vegetable based plasticizer, between about 20% and about 40% of a thermoplastic polymer, and between about 5% and about 20% of a prepolymer.  
   
   
       14 . A method of forming a multi-axial stretchable pad comprising: 
 forming a shock absorbing envelope by sealing within a first and a second opposed multi-axial stretchable layers a polymeric gel.    
   
   
       15 . The method of forming a multi-axial stretchable pad of  claim 14  wherein the polymeric gel if formed by combining an epoxidized vegetable oil, a polydiene and a cyano group.  
   
   
       16 . The method of forming a multi-axial stretchable pad of  claim 15 , wherein the polydiene is selected from polybutadiene, polyisoprene, polychloroprene, polynobornene, copolymers, terpolymers and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       17 . The method of forming a multi-axial stretchable pad of  claim 15 , wherein the opposed first and second layer are sealed by fusing the two layers along the periphery of the pad.  
   
   
       18 . A multi-axial stretchable pad comprising; 
 a first and a second opposed multi-axial stretchable layers; and    a shock absorbing a polymer gel residing between the first and second opposed multi-axial stretchable substrate layers, wherein the shock absorbing a polymer gel comprises at least greater than 50% by weight of an epoxidized vegetable oil.    
   
   
       19 . The multi-axial stretchable pad of  claim 18 , wherein the gel comprises between about 20% to about 40% of the polydiene.  
   
   
       20 . The multi-axial stretchable pad of  claim 18 , wherein the gel comprises up to about 5% by weight of the alkyl tin compound.