Characterization of Natural and Synthetic Fiber-Reinforced Composites for Sport Prosthetic Feet Applications

Daniah F. Abbas, College of Materials Engineering, University of Technology- Iraq, Baghdad 10066, IraqFollow
Jawad K. Oleiwi, College of Materials Engineering, University of Technology- Iraq, Baghdad 10066, IraqFollow
Qahtan A. Hamad, College of Materials Engineering, University of Technology- Iraq, Baghdad 10066, IraqFollow

Keywords

Prosthetic feet, Natural fiber, Hemp fiber, Sisal fiber, Bamboo fiber, Synthetic fiber, Carbon fiber

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Sports prosthetic feet reinforced with natural and synthetic fibers offer a promising solution for developing lightweight, cost-effective, and sustainable biomedical components. In this study, epoxy-based composite laminates reinforced with Hemp, Sisal, and Bamboo fibers were fabricated for potential sports prosthetic foot applications. Different reinforcement configurations (3, 6, 9, and 12 plies) were investigated, while hybrid laminates were produced by incorporating three carbon fiber layers to enhance overall performance. The fabricated composites were evaluated in terms of density, water absorption, fiber volume fraction, hardness, and microstructural characteristics using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
The results demonstrated that increasing the number of reinforcement layers increased fiber volume fraction and improved overall composite performance. Among the natural fiber composites, Hemp laminates exhibited the highest density (1.412 g/cm³), hardness (80.2 Shore D), and fiber volume fraction (43%), together with the lowest water absorption (2.78%). The incorporation of carbon fiber layers further enhanced all investigated properties. The hybrid Hemp/carbon laminate (12H+3C) achieved the highest density (1.624 g/cm³), highest hardness (81.5 Shore D), highest fiber volume fraction (48%), and lowest water absorption (1.31%). SEM observations suggested that carbon fiber hybridization reduced visible voids, improved fiber–matrix interaction, and produced a more compact microstructure.
The findings indicate that hybrid natural fiber/carbon composites, particularly Hemp/carbon laminates, offer a favorable combination of mechanical performance, moisture resistance, lightweight characteristics, and sustainability, making them promising candidates for sports prosthetic foot applications.

Recommended Citation

Abbas, Daniah F.; Oleiwi, Jawad K.; and Hamad, Qahtan A. (2026) "Characterization of Natural and Synthetic Fiber-Reinforced Composites for Sport Prosthetic Feet Applications," Engineering and Technology Journal: Vol. 44: Iss. 12, Article 6.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.30684/2412-0758.2414

DOI

10.30684/2412-0758.2414

First Page

103

Last Page

120

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