Strength Assessment of PET Composite Prosthetic Sockets

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Engineering
• Materials Science
• Prosthetics and Orthotics

Background:

• Prosthetic sockets must withstand high loads without failure.
• Traditional composite sockets are often costly and inaccessible in resource-limited regions.
• Developing affordable and sustainable prosthetic materials is crucial for amputees worldwide.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the feasibility of using polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fiber-reinforced composites for lower-limb prosthetic sockets.
• To compare the mechanical properties and load-bearing capacity of PET composites against traditional prosthetic materials.

Main Methods:

• Manufactured PET-woven and PET-knitted composites using vacuum-assisted resin transfer moulding (VARTM).
• Prepared specimens of glass-fiber-reinforced (GFRP) laminates, polypropylene (PP), and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) for comparison.
• Evaluated mechanical properties via ASTM standards and tested socket performance under forefoot loading (ISO 10328).

Main Results:

• PET-woven and PET-knitted composites exhibited superior mechanical properties compared to PP and HDPE.
• All manufactured sockets, including PET-based ones, met the 125 kg load-bearing capacity requirement.
• PET sockets demonstrated greater deformation and stiffness resistance than monolithic PP and HDPE sockets.

Conclusions:

• PET-based composites offer a viable, low-cost, and sustainable alternative to traditional monolithic socket materials.
• PET composites can be used to produce durable and affordable lower-limb prostheses.
• This advancement holds significant potential for improving prosthetic accessibility in underserved populations.