| abstract |
The present invention is an improved energy absorbing member comprising a thermoplastic foam polymer in contact with a structural element such as a metal guard rail or automobile door, wherein the foam polymer has an average cell size of at least about 0.75 mm, and C E / C T , C At least one of V / C T and C H / C T is about 0.25 to about 0.4, and one of the C E / C T , C V / C T and C H / C T is at least 70% compressed at 60% strain Efficiency, C E , C V and C H are the compressive strengths of the foamed polymer in each direction in which one of the three orthogonal directions E, V and H is the direction of maximum compressive strength in the foam, and C T is C E And an energy absorbing member such as the sum of C V and C H. |