Durability is the ability of a material to last a long time without any significant deterioration in it properties. For foot orthotic materials durability is the ability of the material to withstand the repeated loading and unloading of the gait cycle to resist wear and damage. Durability is an important part of the decision making process regarding foot orthotic material choices because of this cycling loading that they are put under.
Durability is affected by other material properties such as density.
Different foot orthotic materials will have differing amounts of durability and compromises may have to be made as less durable materials may have the biomechanical properties that are needed in a particular foot orthotic design. For example, the softer materials that may be needed for more cushioning or shock absorption might be less durable and need replacing at particular intervals.
Many foot orthotic designs will have more than one material with each material having differing durability properties. For example the foot orthotic shell may be made of a durable product (eg polypropylene) and the top cover made of a less durable material (eg Poron covered with vinyl). This might mean that the top cover is worn out when the shell is still viable leading to the need for a foot orthotic refurbishment to replace the top cover.
Related Topics:
Material hardness | Shore durometer | Compression set | Material stiffness | Material properties | Foot orthotic materials | Density
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