Application of Carbon Fiber in Wheelchair

Wheelchairs are special means of transportation for people with mobility disabilities. In order to meet their diverse needs for daily travel and life, the design and production of wheelchairs are increasingly pursuing lightweight, humanized, and intelligent. People who use wheelchairs use wheelchairs more frequently in their daily life, and it is necessary to ensure that the wheelchair components are durable; of course, in daily handling and stacking, wheelchairs must also be easy to operate, so lightweight design must also be considered in the design of wheelchairs. Carbon fiber material wheelchair parts can well meet this demand.

Traditional wheelchairs are made of steel. In order to pursue lightweight, aluminum alloys are gradually replacing them. Now, carbon fiber composite materials are beginning to occupy a new dominant position with their own lightweight performance advantages. At present, most of the wheelchairs on the market are manual wheelchairs, which are mainly driven by human power. The lighter the wheelchair, the easier it is to operate, which can reduce the burden on their shoulders and wrists. The carbon fiber material wheelchair components are applied to the main frame of the electric wheelchair, which can reduce the weight by about 30%, and can greatly increase the battery life.

In addition to light weight, wheelchair components also need to consider the issue of long-term use. Wheelchair components are used frequently, so they must be strong and durable. The strength of carbon fiber composite materials is about 7-10 times higher than that of metal materials, which can ensure the strength of daily use, and its fatigue resistance is good, the creep is close to 0, and the long-term high-frequency use will not cause aging and wear of parts, and serious deformation and so on. In the design of carbon fiber wheelchair components, the laying direction and thickness of the ply can be considered, so that its good bearing capacity and service life can be guaranteed.

In addition to the above advantages, wheelchair components also have requirements for corrosion resistance. Some wheelchair users may experience incontinence, drug spills, etc., which requires wheelchair components to be resistant to the erosion of these pollutants. Carbon fiber composite materials are Non-metallic inert material, no chemical reaction with acid, alkali and salt, good corrosion resistance, if pollutants stick to the surface, just wipe it lightly, and it will not affect the use. Outdoors, it is inevitable to withstand the test of ultraviolet radiation, rain, or changes in high and low temperatures. Traditional metal materials are prone to rust and surface oxidation, which not only affects the appearance, but also has a cumulative impact on the overall performance of the wheelchair. The carbon fiber material wheelchair parts are just right to make up for these defects.

Among wheelchair users, there may be patients with hemiplegia, stroke, cut-off, and fracture, especially some patients who have just undergone surgery or are in the recovery period. In the process of using the wheelchair, in order to avoid secondary injuries, it is necessary to minimize The vibration of the wheelchair. The carbon fiber wheelchair has a large damping coefficient and good shock absorption and shock absorption effect, which can reduce the vibration between the frame and the hub, improve the comfort and safety of the patient, and facilitate the recovery during the rehabilitation period.

Carbon fiber composite materials have excellent performance, and can also realize the production of complex component structures through integral molding technology, which is an ideal material for making high-end wheelchairs. However, due to the limitation of production cost, the application of carbon fiber materials in wheelchairs is not very popular. However, with the increase of population aging, wheelchairs are no longer limited to hospital patients, and the elderly also have a great demand for wheelchairs. It is believed that with the deepening of carbon fiber material research and people's pursuit of quality of life, the application of carbon fiber material wheelchair components will become more and more popular.