Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

A wooden cycling helmet? New material said to offer similar properties to Styrofoam

Swedes reinvent the cycle helmet... again

From the land that brought us the airbag helmet comes another which makes use of a new shock-absorbing material made of renewable and biodegradable wood-based material. The helmet was designed by Rasmus Malbert, from the design studio Materialist, and produced by Cellutech, a Stockholm startup, as part of the Swedish Forest Industries Federation’s Ekoportal2035.

Ekoportal2035 is a vision of a biobased future and the helmet is made entirely out of forest products. The outer layer is a wood veneer, the strap is made from durable paper, while the inside cushioning is made of Cellufoam™, a wood-based foam material that researcher Lars Wågberg, a professor in Fibre Technology at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, says offers comparable properties to Styrofoam.

Phys.org reports that production begins with wood cellulose nanofibres, or fibrils, which are modified and mixed with a foaming agent, water and air. Through the process of Pickering stabilisation, these particles stabilise the air-bubbles in a way that is said to be much better than by using simple surfactants

The idea for the material came from a research group within the Wallenberg Wood Science Centre (WWSC) and has been further developed by Cellutech. "The collaboration with Cellutech makes it possible to commercialise the new materials we develop within WWSC and bring them closer to the market," said Wågberg.

The helmet prototype is intended to draw attention to the possibilities of using wood cellulose as a sustainable alternative to Styrofoam and other foams made from synthetic polymers.

Designer Rasmus Malbert said he thought there was great potential in the material. “We are just at the beginning of an exciting trend where more and more petroleum-based materials are replaced with renewable alternatives."

We’ve previously reported on a cardboard helmet, the Kranium, which was said to be lighter, stronger and safer than a standard helmet and made from recycled paper. It eventually made it onto the market as the Abus Performance helmet. We reviewed it and concluded: "Taking it off is a blessing."

The Headkayse presents another alternative to expanded polystyrene. This foldable bike helmet is made from a material called Enkayse and, unlike conventional helmets, is said to be able to withstand repeated impacts. The British firm behind Headkayse is currently looking to raise £50,000 via Indiegogo.

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

Add new comment

10 comments

Avatar
Leviathan | 7 years ago
0 likes

Can we see a glum road.cc staffer wearing one?

Is 3d printing the future of helmets? I can see some funky etched designs in this material.

Avatar
darrylxxx | 8 years ago
1 like

A wooden helmet for my wooden head. Great.

Avatar
mike the bike | 8 years ago
0 likes

These new-fangled foreign materials will never replace traditional, British plastics like my grandfather used to wear, and his grandfather before him.

Avatar
dassie | 8 years ago
0 likes

Doesn't appear to be very well ventilated.

Avatar
kie7077 | 8 years ago
2 likes

So, these are for pedestrians and drivers, right?

Avatar
armb replied to kie7077 | 8 years ago
2 likes

kie7077 wrote:

So, these are for pedestrians and drivers, right?

I guess so. Bike helmets, at least road bike helmets, have some ventilation. Though at this time of year it might be okay without....

Avatar
a1white | 8 years ago
4 likes

I wood wear it.  1

Avatar
The _Kaner replied to a1white | 8 years ago
4 likes

a1white wrote:

I wood wear it.  1

 

Oak -y, I wooden wear it!

maybe that's a bit of a copse out on my behalf...

Ash far as I can see it's at least treemendous craftmanship.

I bough down to that!

Avatar
Simon Ker replied to The _Kaner | 8 years ago
1 like

The _Kaner wrote:

a1white wrote:

I wood wear it.  1

 

Oak -y, I wooden wear it!

maybe that's a bit of a copse out on my behalf...

Ash far as I can see it's at least treemendous craftmanship.

I bough down to that!

 

Face-Palm !

Avatar
Wookie | 8 years ago
0 likes

Let the debate begin:

 

Latest Comments