Mouth Guard Composition Impact Resistance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mouth guards made from ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer or polyolefin rubber often tear under strong impact, emit odors, and lack sufficient resistance to high-level impact forces, leading to deformation and wear, particularly in professional sports.
Innovation Solution
A mouth guard composition comprising 39-98% styrene block copolymer, 1-60% thermoplastic resins (aliphatic cyclic saturated hydrocarbon, terpene, or ester gum), and 0.1-40% waxes (mineral, synthetic, or plant wax) with the addition of 0.1-20% polyolefin resin, enhancing hardness and reducing distortion and wear under repeated impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional mouth guard materials (ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer or polyolefin rubber) are used, then cost is reduced, but tear strength is insufficient and the material deteriorates under strong impact force
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite material system comprising styrene block copolymer as the base resin, combined with thermoplastic resin (aliphatic cyclic saturated hydrocarbon resin, terpene resin, or ester gum) and wax components. This composite structure provides both cost-effectiveness and superior tear strength, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing cost and tear strength.
2Reliability
If the mouth guard is made softer to absorb impact force, then protection against teeth and jaws is improved, but the mouth guard deforms more easily under strong impact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the material parameters by incorporating thermoplastic resin and wax into the styrene block copolymer matrix. This changes the mechanical properties to achieve an optimal balance between softness for impact absorption and hardness for deformation resistance, allowing the mouth guard to protect teeth and jaws while maintaining structural stability under strong impact.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the mouth guard is made harder to resist impact force, then deformation under impact is reduced, but the mouth guard wears more easily under repeated biting force
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite material system where styrene block copolymer provides hardness and deformation resistance, while the incorporated thermoplastic resin and wax components provide wear resistance and durability under repeated biting forces. This composite structure simultaneously achieves both deformation resistance and wear resistance.
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional mouth guard materials are used, then manufacturing is simple, but the mouth guard generates odors and deteriorates under repeated use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material composition parameters by incorporating thermoplastic resin and wax into the styrene block copolymer matrix. This compositional change eliminates odor generation while maintaining manufacturing simplicity, as the materials can still be processed using conventional mouth guard manufacturing methods.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The composition significantly reduces distortion and wear when subjected to strong impact forces, providing enhanced protection for teeth and jaws without significant deformation or odor issues, maintaining durability and moldability.
Implementation Method 1
a mouth guard made from an elastic material is placed in an oral cavity to absorb the impact force for protecting jaws and oral system
Implementation Method 2
when a composition for a mouth guard comprising a styrene block copolymer; one or more kinds of thermoplastic resins selected from the group consisting of aliphatic cyclic saturated hydrocarbon resin, terpene resin, aliphatic petroleum resin, and ester gum; and one or more kinds of waxes selected from the group consisting of mineral wax, synthetic wax, plant wax, and animal wax, further comprises a polyolefin resin, the hardness of a mouth guard is enhanced
Data Source
AI summary
A mouth guard composition comprises 39 to 98 % by weight of styrene block copolymer; 1 to 60 % by weight of one or more kinds of thermoplastic resins selected from the group consisting of aliphatic cyclic saturated hydrocarbon resin, terpene resin, aliphatic petroleum resin and ester gum; and 0.1 to 40 % by weight of one or more kinds of waxes selected from the group consisting of mineral wax, synthetic wax, plant wax, and animal wax, said composition further comprising 0.1 to 20 % by weight of polyolefin resin, thereby providing the mouth guard composition which is not largely distorted when extremely strong impact force is applied thereto during the use of the mouth guard and can protect teeth and jaws, and little wearing is caused when repetitive force is applied.