Plastic as an indispensable companion for people with disabilities

Plastic makes our lives easier every day - for some this is more true, for others less. And for people with disabilities, plastic can simply mean a great deal of freedom. Fiber-reinforced composites and the like are used today where bulky and awkward solutions had to be found in the past. They are the cheaper and lighter alternative that makes many things possible.

Disabilities are as diverse as people themselves. That' s why it is important for aids to be just as diverse when they can be adapted to the needs of the people using them. And what material could be better suited for this than plastic?

Taking measurements, firing up the 3D printer, trying on the product - it can be that simple. Where orthopedic technicians used to have to reach into the toolbox, they now create custom-fit orthoses in the 3D printer. And even though it may take a little longer to manufacture, an additively manufactured orthosis has many advantages: comparisons and surveys show that people who use 3D-printed hand orthoses use the affected hand more often for two-handed activities. Furthermore, they report improved tactile perception with increased wearing comfort. They also sweat significantly less. This contributes to the acceptance of the aid.

And how does the process work? After prior modeling using CAD, a print blank is created that users can try on. It is then finished, compacted and refined. Orthoses are subject to continuous stress during their service life, which is why polyamide 11 and 12 as well as TPA are particularly suitable for the production of rigid and semi-rigid orthoses.

Plastics don't just make things lighter. Sometimes they even enable them in the first place. People who - for a variety of reasons - have no legs used to have to rely exclusively on wheelchairs or painful, heavy and not particularly comfortable prostheses. Today, they can achieve peak performance on prostheses that others can only dream of. The magic word is carbon. The fiber composite material (CFRP), which was invented as early as the end of the 19th century, is light, flexible and springs well; at the same time, it is well suited for high loads because it is extremely stable - four times more resilient than aluminum!

By the way: Johannes Floors, multiple medal winner and world record holder in the para sprint, needs 10.54 seconds for 100 meters. That makes him just 0.96 seconds slower than Usain Bolt. This is made possible by his prostheses. 

But carbon is not the only showcase material when it comes to weight reduction. Polypropylene, melamine and other plastics are also a relief for people with disabilities. In the form of cups or dishes, these plastics can be found in many kitchens, because they are not only suitable for children, but also for people who have little strength in their hands and therefore cannot lift anything heavy. Plastic makes it easy for them - and should a cup slip out of your hand, the plastic is happy to forgive, because it is resilient and keeps its shape.

Apart from its light weight, plastic has another property that it shares with very few other things in the world: It can be transparent. And that can be an important feature for people with hearing impairments, especially in pandemic situations. After all, if everyone wears an opaque mask, they can no longer see their counterpart's facial expressions and lip movements - but that's a crucial criterion for them to be able to communicate. This is where polypropylene, TPE and silicone come in handy. Together, they form a transparent mask that allows these important communication components to still be seen. 

From big inventions to small everyday objects, plastic is a true all-rounder when it comes to making life easier for people with disabilities.