sorbothane

Sorbothane was invented and patented in 1982 by Dr. Maurice Hiles,{{us patent |4346205A}} a British inventor. It was prepared by mixing polyol and isocyanate.{{cite magazine|title=Inventor fleshes out plan for better boots |magazine=New Scientist|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LUgsuhiWdFcC&pg=PA778|accessdate=28 June 2012|date=6 December 1979|publisher=Reed Business Information|page=778|issn=0262-4079}} His research into the energy dissipation properties of human soft tissue disclosed a structure very similar to an interpenetrating polymer network. This led to his synthesis of the first commercial simultaneous interpenetrating network, now called Sorbothane.{{cite web | last=Smock | first=Doug | title=Unique Urethane Dampens Shocks and Noise | website=designnews.com | date=2009-08-13 | url=http://www.designnews.com/article/327542-Unique_Urethane_Dampens_Shocks_and_Noise.php | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903100610/http://www.designnews.com/article/327542-Unique_Urethane_Dampens_Shocks_and_Noise.php | archive-date=2009-09-03 | url-status=dead }} Dr. Hiles wrote in his patent "The resulting solid polymer behaves like a quasi-liquid, being readily deformed by an applied force and slow to recover, although in the absence of such a force it takes up a defined shape and volume". In 1976, he contacted the National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) about his invention; the NRDC spent almost £10,000 in helping him to improve and patent the polymer. BTR Industries obtained the license from NRDC for selling them.

The material combines some of the properties of rubber, silicone, and other elastic polymers. It is considered to be a good vibration damping material, an acoustic insulator, and highly durable. An unusually high amount of the energy from an object dropped onto Sorbothane is absorbed. The feel and damping qualities of Sorbothane have been likened to those of meat.

Sorbothane is a visco-elastic material, meaning that it exhibits properties of both liquids (viscous solutions) and solids (elastic materials), with a relaxation time of two seconds.{{cite journal | title=A biomechanical evaluation of sorbothane. | pmid=3621732 | journal=Clin Orthop Relat Res | pages=281–8 | last1 = Cinats | first1 = J | last2 = Reid | first2 = DC | last3 = Haddow | first3 = JB | year=1987 | issue=222}} Because visco-elastic behavior is desirable in shock and vibration applications, many materials claim to be viscoelastic; however, many of these materials have only trace viscoelastic properties.{{citation needed|date=June 2012}}

Similar materials include polynorbornene, Noene, and Astro-sorb.

Sorbothane has many industrial applications, from acoustic shielding to machine mounts. It has been used to quiet personal computers by being packed around the hard drive and other noisy spinning components. Sorbothane damps vibration transmission from vibrating hardware. In addition, Sorbothane has been used by NASA to isolate vibration,{{cite conference | last1=Houston | first1=Janice | last2=Gattis | first2=Christy | title=Passive Isolators for Use on the International Space Station | journal=42nd AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit | publisher=American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics | publication-place=Reston, Virginia | date=2004-01-05 | doi=10.2514/6.2004-787 | isbn=978-1-62410-078-9 | url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20040020088/downloads/20040020088.pdf | access-date=6 October 2023 | archive-date=18 November 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231118150840/https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20040020088/downloads/20040020088.pdf | url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2019-05-14 |title=Sorbothane Protects NASA Components During Launch |url=https://www.insoles-sorbothane.com/sorbothane-safeguards-critical-nasa-components-from-damage-during-launch-isnt-each-step-you-take-just-as-critical/ |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=Sorbothane Insoles |archive-date=27 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027000633/https://www.insoles-sorbothane.com/sorbothane-safeguards-critical-nasa-components-from-damage-during-launch-isnt-each-step-you-take-just-as-critical/ |url-status=live }} in the Air Force Memorial,{{Cite web |title=Designing the Perfect Memorial: Sorbothane & the Air Force Memorial - www.sorbothane.com |url=https://www.sorbothane.com/air-force-memorial-sorbothane.aspx |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=www.sorbothane.com |date=23 July 2019 |archive-date=27 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027000648/https://www.sorbothane.com/air-force-memorial-sorbothane.aspx |url-status=live }} and to transport the Liberty Bell.{{Cite web |title=Vibration Solutions - www.sorbothane.com |url=https://www.sorbothane.com/vibration-solutions-for-your-business.aspx |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=www.sorbothane.com |date=3 February 2015 |archive-date=27 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027000632/https://www.sorbothane.com/vibration-solutions-for-your-business.aspx |url-status=live }} It is currently used with insoles and heel pads to absorb impacts during sports activities such as football, cricket, and rugby.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}} It is also used in recoil pads of guns.{{cite book|author=James Russell|title=Precision Shooting: The Trapshooter's Bible : for the Advanced Trapshooter & Those who Strive to be ...|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=csSPiG0ThHgC&pg=PA107|accessdate=28 June 2012|date=1 January 1998|publisher=James Russell Publishing|isbn=978-0-916367-10-7|page=107|archive-date=4 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240504055248/https://books.google.com/books?id=csSPiG0ThHgC&pg=PA107#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}}

• Acoustic foam
• Quiet PC
• Memory foam
• Neoprene
• Vibration isolation
• Bushing (isolator)
• Anechoic chamber
• Soundproofing
• D3o
• {{interlanguage link|BASF Polyurethanes|de}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.sorbothane.com Sorbothane, Inc.]

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}

Category:Polyurethanes

Category:Elastomers