Printed Fiberglass Bandages as Orthopaedic Fiberglass Casting Tapes (4)
Many printing substances cause a significant loss in the conformability of orthopaedic fiberglass casting tapes. The printing is such that the conformability of the fiberglass substrate should not be compromised significantly after printing inks are dried and cured. This is the obvious need for the conformability of the substrate in order to provide good fracture immobilization. Because the glass fiber surface would not readily absorb the pigments, large quantities of inks must be applied in order for the inks to become locked in the interstices of the fabric. However, in the case where the cured inks become hard, the interstices of the substrate become locked which causes a loss in stretchability and conformability of the fabric. It is therefore desirable to have systems which remain flexible after curing and permit the application of thin layers of prints to the surface so that there is little effect on the conformability of the casting tape.
