Multifunctional Polymer Composites to Manufacture Assistive Device for Locomotor Disable Persons

Himel Chakraborty; Ananda Podder

Abstract

Among the synthetic fibers, the glass fibers are most popularly used in fiber for reinforced in engineering polymers matrix, as they offer excellent stiffness and strength, impact resistance and thermal stability at a low price to manufacture various assistive devices. The carbon fibers were applied as an alternative of glass fibers, where maximum stiffness is required. The aim of this article is, to give an overview of an experimental comparison between popular assistive devices manufacturing polymer pristine polyethylene, pristine polypropylene with epoxy based composites reinforced with carbon and hybrid of glass/carbon fibers. The various filler concentration loaded epoxy composites were manufactured, compared and tested under tensile, flexural and fatigue test condition to improve the mechanical properties, increase the lifetime of the assistive devices, reduce the cost to the patient. The results showed that the hybrid carbon/glass fiber reinforced polyurethane composites achieve a generous increment in mechanical properties as compared with pristine polypropylene and polyethylene, respectively. The fatigue life was sharply increased in both of the glass fiber and hybrid carbon/glass fiber reinforced composites. A summary of established methods for characterization of fibers, polymers and composites completes this article.

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