Low friction coatings tech news
On October 5, 2026, protective equipment manufacturer Alpinestars revealed technical details for its S--R7 full--face helmet lineup, ahead of its scheduled commercial release on October 16, 2026. The helmet integrates an impact mitigation system utilizing a seven--piece, six--density expanded polystyrene (EPS) inner liner finished with a patented low--friction coating. Operating as a low--friction slip plane engineered to mimic the brain's cerebrospinal fluid, the coating allows differential movement between surfaces during oblique impacts, reducing rotational acceleration by up to 80% compared to standard ECE 22.06 benchmark thresholds.