The influence of heat treatment on the impact performance of sports mouthguard materials

During the course of this research the effect of heat treatment on the physical properties of an ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) was observed. Unprocessed and heat-treated samples were evaluated in terms of photoelastic analysis and impact testing. The treatment reduced the process stresses, giving a slightly lower impact force and a significantly increased displacement compared with the unprocessed samples, hence increasing the energy absorbing capacity of the material. The mouthguard manufacturing process may compromise its performance as a protective device and therefore it is essential that future investigations must include testing the mouthguard, not the material alone.