Sorbotan in many applications has achieved an absorption of energy from shockwaves close to 95%. Engineers around the world specify sorbotan for its shock absorbing properties. When a delicate object is packed for shipping, often the empty space in the box is filled with styrofoam that packages peanuts. These small pieces of foam fill the contours of the item to be shipped, protecting it and keeping it in place.
Peanuts also absorb the impact of shocks to the outside of the box and prevent that impact from being transferred to the item. The same principles that make them useful for shipping make them a good starting point for absorbing the impact of your scientific project. A study on shock absorption shows that this material absorbs approximately seven times more shock energy than plexiglass (used in bulletproof windows). One gram of ZIF-8 can absorb all the energy released by the detonation of one gram of TNT.
Because shocks are often associated with adverse effects on objects or people, they ultimately cause inefficiencies, such as waste, reprocessing and downtime. Sorbotane is a patented, thermosetting, polyether-based polyurethane material with viscoelastic properties, that is, it acts as a liquid to absorb shocks and as an elastic solid when at rest. Fortunately, many materials in everyday use, especially packaging materials, provide extensive shock absorption for scientific projects. The shock effect occurs when the energy of the impact is transferred from one individual or object to another.
Sorbotane was specifically designed for shock absorption and is manufactured to surpass all other materials on the market. To understand what types of materials are best for shock absorption, we must understand impacts, why shock absorption is important, and how shock energy is absorbed. By stacking several layers of air-filled plastic sheets, a functional cushion is created that absorbs the impact of the experiment. At the top, where the shock is strongest, the MOF is amorphized and the Raman spectrum shows no covalent bonds.
As the impact spreads through the MOF, it attenuates, so the deeper it is below the surface, the less damage caused by the impact to the MOF. The Sorbothane product line includes superior quality shock absorbing bushings and washers for use in machinery and high-performance insulating legs to isolate noise and vibration in system components.