An evaluation of force attenuation, comfort properties and density of materials for hip protective pads

We evaluated 15 materials for their effectiveness as hip protective pads for elderly women, including several materials used in commercially available pads and novel materials. The materials’ densities were measured, and they were tested for force attenuation (relevant to protection), permeability index (relevant to thermophysiological wear comfort) and interface pressure delivery (relevant to pressure comfort). Force attenuation values were obtained in drop impact tests. Permeability data were obtained from the dry thermal resistance and evaporative resistance of the pads tested using a sweating guarded hot plate. Interface pressure delivery values were acquired using a Salzmann pressure-measuring device MST MK IV. Experimental pads were graded, rated and ranked on their overall performance using weights applied to the four parameters. Vertically lapped nonwoven fabrics and treated knitted spacer fabrics were highly ranked and could be used as material for hip protective pads.