Advance green fiber reinforced thermosetting composites for reliable assistive device fabrication

Himel Chakraborty; Ananda Podder

Abstract

The biodegradable green fibers derived from natural plants are abundantly available and are currently considered as potential reinforcements. Present study aims at investigating the mechanical properties of green jute fiber reinforced thermoset composites as possible alternatives to the inorganic glass fiber reinforced prosthetic assistive device. Continuous green jute fiber are treated with sodium hydroxide and acetic acid, and then added to epoxy and polyester at varying fiber loadings to produce green fiber reinforced composites using the hand lay-up method. The mechanical properties of glass fiber polyester composite were compared with green jute fiber polyester composites and green jute epoxy composites. Tensile, flexural and impact test of the developed composites was performed. The interface between fiber and matrix was examined using scan electron microscopy. Green jute fiber polyester composites have shown improved mechanical property where as, green jute epoxy composites showed the highest mechanical property. Thus, green jute epoxy composites have the potential to be further developed as a replacement for glass fiber in above-knee prosthetic sockets like assistive device.

Abstract

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