Characteristics Composite Materials to be Used in Trans-Tibial Prosthetic Sockets

Abstract

To initate a datebase on material properties on typical laminations used in belwo knee prosthetic socket (Trans-Tibial). The authors subjected samples of common prosthetic socket laminations to tensile, bending, and fatigue tests. Two varieties of lay up material (fibers) were each laminated separately with common resins (acrylic), resulting in four combinations of fiber/acrylic resin. Fibers made of carbon fiber and perlon fiber were used at different volume fractions. The result showed that socket prosthesis made of carbon fiber and perlon fiber (12 layers) has highest tensile and flexural strenght when compared to other laminations. Material test results indicate that the composite material (12 Layers) have better tensile and fatigue properties than composite material (8 layers). The ultimate tensile strength, and the modulus of elasticity composite material (12 layers) are higher than those of the composite material (8 layers) by 0.124% and 0.072% respectively, and by 0.1% and 0.185 for composite material (8 layers ) with volume fraction of matrix equal 0.72). Vacuum technique is good process and this prevented cavites or defects in specimens