planetaltitude.com

[MonkeyMagic]

Hi

Can you please explain to me the science behind your unique 4D foam padding. I assume 4D means four dimensional, how is this better than the standard three dimensional foam?

Cheers

MM

[Guest]

As MM mentioned, I'd like to know more about 4D Foam.
Yes how is 4D foam is better or different than the 1/2 inch thick tech-form which can be found in other products in the web.

Thanks.

[MonkeyMagic]

Ok I think I may have worked it out,



4D could stand for 4 directions, as in an impact is dissipated in 4 directions in the plane of the foam (normal to the direction of impact, each direction being at right angles to each other). However this would not make the 4D foam unique, as any material dissipates the force of an impact in an infinite number of directions (provided you break the force down into infinitely small amounts, so it can be spread around). All of these directions can be fully expressed using just three dimensions, so we are missing a dimension. Additionally we could use the popular assumption of using time as the fourth dimension, meaning that the 4D foam not only spreads any impact over 3 dimensions (in an infinite number of directions) but also uses the fourth dimension (time) to further dissipate the initial impact. The 4D foam uses the time between the initial impact and the impact to the body to dissipate energy. This dissipation of energy over 4 dimensions gives the 4D foam its name. It is true that all materials will dissipate force over four dimensions to a certain extent, but it may be the enhanced effect on the fourth dimension which gives the 4D foam its name. It effectively slows the transferred impact force in the fourth dimension (time) more than other materials allowing any force to be dissipated further in the remaining 3 dimensions, before full transfer of the impact force. According to the general theory of relativity, from the view point of a stationary observer this time period will appear even longer (depending on the velocity of the impacting object "snowboarder"). This is however of little comfort to the impacting object as the time of impact (and its effect) is not slowed, apart from the direct effect of the 4D foam.



Another explanation is 4D is just a name



either way the layout of the 4D foam is excellent and its great how the pants combine knee and shin guards with impact shorts, plus with the top you look like He-man.



Cheers

[chris_planetaltitude]

Hi Monkey Magic,
Thanks heaps for that! Wow - you actually know more about the 4D foam than I do! I spoke to our design department and you are exactly right. That is how the name came about. They have done a hell of a lot of testing on different foams and different thicknesses of foam. It involves a standardised test where you measure the force on a surface below the foam after you drop an object of a set weight from a set height. Its all quite beyond me but after experimenting with different foams and different compositions of foam they came up with the term 4D so again you are right - it came about through experimentation and is also well - just a name. One thing for sure also is the 4D foam is definitely one of the key differences between Planet Altitude protective gear and the other gear out there on the market. The 4D foam has a "gel-like" feel to it that is lightweight and conforms to your body shape - but more importantly it is the most impact absorbing foam you will ever see on a snowboard protective product. People tend to underestimate the importance of the foam used in snowboard protective gear but we believe that it is without doubt the most important feature of all.