A Comparative Study of Energy Absorbing Foams for Head Impact Energy Management

A variety of energy absorbing foams were evaluated to address the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 201 extended rule requirements for automotive interior head impact protection. The methodology used for the comparative study was the “Fast Path System” developed in part by Chrysler Corporation to provide a quick and reliable procedure to compare different materials and designs for energy management. Polyurethane, expanded polypropylene and expanded polystyrene energy absorbing foams were evaluated in this study.