The influence of pineapple leaf fiber orientation and volume fraction on methyl methacrylate-based polymer matrix for prosthetic socket application

Eric Worlawoe Gaba, Bernard O. Asimeng, Elsie Effah Kaufmann, E. Johan Foster, Elvis K. Tiburu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This work reports on the use of low-cost pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) as an alternative reinforcing material to the established, commonly used material for prosthetic socket fabrication which is carbon-fiber-reinforced composite (CFRC) due to the high strength and stiffness of carbon fiber. However, the low range of loads exerted on a typical prosthetic socket (PS) in practice sug-gests that the use of CFRC may not be appropriate because of the high material stiffness which can be detrimental to socket-limb load transfer. Additionally, the high cost of carbon fiber avails opportunities to look for an alternative material as a reinforcement for composite PS development. PALF/Methyl Methacrylate-based (MMA) composites with 0°, 45° and 90° fiber orientations were made with 5–50 v/v fiber volume fractions. The PALF/MMA composites were subjected to a three-point flexural test to determine the effect of fiber volume fraction and fiber orientation on the flex-ural properties of the composite. The results showed that 40% v/v PALF/MMA composite with 0° fiber orientation recorded the highest flexural strength (50 MPa) and stiffness (1692 MPa). Consid-ering the average load range exerted on PS, the flexural performance of the novel composite characterized in this work could be suitable for socket-limb load transfer for PS fabrication.

Original languageEnglish
Article number3381
JournalPolymers
Volume13
Issue number19
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Oct 2021

Keywords

  • Flexural properties
  • Orientation
  • Pineapple leaf fiber
  • Prosthetic socket
  • Volume fraction

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