As the technology continues to get better and better with every passing day, the impact can also be seen on the helmet manufacturing companies. Helmet manufacturers have started using a whole new set of materials in the helmets in order to beef up the safety of the motorcycle riders. Today, almost all the helmets are designed in a way that they become comfortable for the users. The helmets of today are completely different from how they used to be in the past. They are lightweight, stylish and fulfill all the requirements of the motorcycle riders. They offer an optimum protection to the skull of the riders against the impact of a severe collision.
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The choice of materials
It is completely up to the discretion of the helmet manufacturer to decide the type of material they want to choose for any particular model. It doesn’t matter how a manufacturer wants to select the material, the main motive of the companies should be on making the helmet a highly durable product that can take the brunt of the harsh impact when the motorcycle collides with another vehicle. The skull of the user needs to be secured, no matter how big the impact is. The manufacturers are also well-aware of the fact that motorcycle riders can balance themselves at lesser speeds. Major incidents happen when the speed of the vehicle is huge. There are four main materials that are used in the helmets. The quantity, quality and positioning of these materials save the motorcycle rider in an accident. These materials are:
- Fiberglass
- Carbon Fiber.
- Mold Injected Plastic.
- Kevlar
The most common type: Plastic Helmets
Helmets that are made from plastic are most common in the world. But, the companies don’t use any ordinary plastic, but it is a specially engineered plastic that meets the requirements of being intact at the time of any accident to blunt trauma. Though, it is too much to ask from a helmet, but on most occasions, the plastic coated helmets have proven their efficiency and saved the lives of the riders. Motorcycle riders usually avoid wearing helmets that are heavy because they are not comfortable and don’t increase the safety level as well. The plastic helmets provide that perfect balance between the strength and weight, which is required by the riders.
Beneath the plastic shell of the helmets, people are going to see a thick padding of foam that is used in various other applications, like acting as a crunching zone in the modern cars and so on. Moreover, they make helmets a lot sturdier, but there is a problem with the foam. A foam will crush during an impact rather than providing a resistance to the force of the impact.
So, should you choose a fiberglass helmet?
Well, a fiberglass offer greater flexibility. If you don’t know where this material is present on the helmet, then they are present on the outer shell of the helmet. They are designed to soak up as much impact as possible. They can withstand higher impacts and gets shattered unlike their plaster counterparts. That particular aspect helps the motorcycle riders at the time of an accident. Fiberglass is an extremely lightweight material and is the perfect example of how hardness and flexibility can combine in a single material.
Image from: www.canadasmotorcycle.ca
What about racing helmets?
The materials used in racing helmets and other high performance helmets are a bit more exotic than the usual ones. Materials like Kevlar and carbon fiber makes an exceptionally strong motorcycle helmet. These materials are proficient in absorbing greater impacts; the impacts that could easily break a normal helmet into pieces. These helmets are for those who keep the safety point at the top of the list.
You have to keep in mind that you should wear a helmet, whether a cheap one or the most expensive that is being sold in the market. Wearing a helmet is always better than wearing no helmet at all. Rest, I leave it to your wisdom. These were the most popular materials that you will see in the helmets that are currently being sold online or in the concerned stores.
