The Effect of Using Natural Fibers and Nanoparticles in Studying the Properties of Polymer Blends for Medical Applications

Abstract:

This article focused on the effect of natural materials on the Mechanical and Physical Properties of Polymer nanocomposite. Fibers and powder underwent treated with an alkaline solution to improve interfacial adhesion. were constructed with the hand lay-up technique with a PMMA/Epoxy blend and natural powders of egg shells and cuttle bone as reinforcements for medical applications in prosthetic arm fabrication. Therefore the cost of raw materials chosen must be important (i.e. economical and cheap for low-income amputees). Consequently, a prosthesis should be comfortable to wear, simple to put on and take off, light weight, long - lasting, and pleasing to the eye in terms of appearance. The polymer mix composition consisted of 25% PMMA and 75% epoxy, together with three distinct concentrations of natural powders (1, 2, and 3 wt.%) relative to the overall composite weight. The cured resin specimen was evaluated for mechanical and physical parameters, including impact strength, flexural strength, hardness, and density. The results demonstrated that the polymer nanocomposite sample achieved peak impact strength values of 12.2 KJ/m² for cuttle bone and 19.48 KJ/m² for eggshell. The flexural strength recorded was 73 MPa for cuttle bone and 71.2 MPa for eggshell, while hardness values were 83.6 for cuttle bone and 83.8 for eggshell at a 3% nanocomposite ratio. Conversely, the other tests of polymer blends (PMMA + Epoxy) using natural fibers (Siwak and flax) attained the highest results. The impact strength of specimens reinforced with siwak fibers significantly exceeds that of specimens reinforced with flax fibers, with flexural strength and hardness of 13.45 KJ/m², 70.6 MPa, and 86.5 shore D, respectively, compared to the base material (PMMA+EP). The density test results demonstrated an elevation in density corresponding to the increasing weight fraction of nanoparticles (eggshell and cuttle bone) in relation to the base material (PMMA+EP). Therefore, these samples may be considered suitable candidates for use as matrix materials that meet the requirements for prosthetic manufacture.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volume 1189)
• Pages: 3-14
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-ps5V44
• Online since: May 2026
• Authors: Hassan A. Sharhan*, Wafaa M. Salih, Sadeer M. Majeed
• Keywords: Biomaterials, Cuttle Bone, Egg Shell, Epoxy, Flax Fibers, Poly Methyl Methacrylate (PMMA), Prosthetics, Siwak Fibers

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