Tennis Racket Vibration Damper Adhesion to Carbon Fiber
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tennis rackets with vibration absorbers suffer from insufficient adhesion to the fiber reinforced layer, leading to impaired stiffness and rebound performance.
Innovation Solution
A tennis racket design incorporating a fiber reinforced layer with a vibration damper made of a polymer composition, such as styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer or acrylic elastomer, which is firmly joined to the epoxy resin matrix, effectively damping vibrations without compromising the racket's stiffness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a vibration absorber is inserted in the fiber reinforced layer, then vibration suppression is improved, but adhesion to the fiber reinforced layer is insufficient leading to impaired stiffness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary substance (resin or adhesive material) between the vibration absorber and the fiber reinforced layer to improve adhesion. This mediator ensures strong bonding while allowing the vibration absorber to maintain its vibration-damping function, thus resolving the contradiction between vibration suppression and stiffness preservation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameters of the vibration absorber by specifying it as a viscoelastic material with particular loss tangent values (0.05-0.50) and shear modulus ranges (0.1-10 MPa). These parameter adjustments optimize both vibration damping performance and adhesion to the fiber reinforced layer, preventing stiffness impairment.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a vibration absorber with insufficient adhesion is used, then vibration suppression is achieved, but rebound performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The resin or adhesive material acts as an intermediary that ensures strong bonding between the vibration absorber and the fiber reinforced layer. This strong adhesion prevents energy loss at the interface, maintaining rebound performance while still allowing the vibration absorber to suppress vibration propagation effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
By optimizing the shear modulus and loss tangent parameters of the viscoelastic material, the patent achieves a balance where vibration propagation is suppressed but the material maintains sufficient stiffness to preserve rebound performance. The specific parameter ranges ensure both vibration damping and performance reliability.
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 solution suppresses vibration transmission to the player, providing an excellent feel at impact while maintaining the racket's stiffness and rebound performance.
Implementation Method 1
the vibration damper damps vibration that occurs at the frame
Implementation Method 2
A material of the vibration damper is a polymer composition whose base material is a styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer or an acrylic elastomer
Implementation Method 3
The vibration damper is excellent in adhesion to the epoxy resin of the fiber reinforced layer
Data Source
AI summary
A tennis racket includes throats. Each throat includes a fiber reinforced layer and a vibration damper. The vibration damper is surrounded by the fiber reinforced layer. The fiber reinforced layer includes a plurality of reinforcement fibers and a matrix. The reinforcement fibers are typically carbon fibers. The material of the matrix is a resin composition whose base material is an epoxy resin. The vibration damper is formed of a polymer composition. The polymer composition contains a base polymer. The base polymer is preferably a styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer or an acrylic elastomer.