In Formula One, the helmet is a very special part, which should be customized according to each driver's situation, which contains high technical content and is expensive. First, the driver's head should be scanned to create a model with the same size as the real body. The next step is similar to the process of making mummies in ancient Egypt: the head model is wrapped layer by layer with 12 layers of high-performance fiber T8, and each fiber filament is composed of 12, microfibers only 15 times the thickness of hair filaments. All the filaments on a helmet are about 16, kilometers long.
For every helmet manufacturer, the specific composition of the 17 layers on the helmet is a trade secret. Experts can only reveal the three most important ones: carbon fiber to increase rigidity, aramid fiber and polyethylene to prevent fire, and the latter is also used in the manufacture of bulletproof vests. The helmet is very strong, but the weight is very light, only about 1.2 kg, which reduces the pressure on the driver's neck and shoulders.
in the hot pressing process, each monolayer is pressed onto another layer under high pressure and high temperature of 132 degrees. Parts to bear special loads, such as the bottom and goggles, are reinforced with aluminum and titanium. The inner liner consists of two layers of fireproof Nomex. Each helmet must pass the mandatory fire test at 8 degrees for 45 seconds, during which the temperature inside the helmet will not exceed 7 degrees Celsius.
the ventilation system in the helmet can let about 1 liters of fresh air into the helmet. The smallest car oil, toner and brake debris on the track will be removed by a filter. For drivers, it is very important to ensure a good line of sight in exceptional circumstances. 3 mm thick helmet goggles are made of fire-resistant polycarbonate, which can ensure that drivers have a clear line of sight. The shade of goggles can be adjusted in a moment according to the brightness of light, which is very important in the famous Monaco tunnel. In order to test the quality of goggles, projectiles can be fired at the speed of 5km/h, and the depth of impact marks generated on them should not exceed 2.5 mm.
with such superb technology as the backing, it's not surprising why the driver can still get out of F1 car without any injuries even though it was smashed to pieces.