Sustainable and High-Performance Prosthetic Socket: The Role of Hemp Fiber-Reinforced Vinyl Ester Bio-Composites

It is observed that due to growth or weight changes, the human body undergoes biological changes that require the constant replacement and adjustment of prosthetic limbs. Various conditions, including illnesses, injuries, and inherited ailments, need the prosthetic organs. The demand for prosthetics also varies with the civil situation of the country, like war, external invasion, and crime rate. The present research focuses on the mechanical characteristics of a vinyl ester bio-composite reinforced with caustic soda-treated hemp fiber for prosthetic socket biomaterial applications. This research addresses the fabrication of four distinct bio-composites by vacuum bagging technique with variable hemp fiber weight percentages (5, 10, 15, and 20 wt.%) and their comparison to the virgin vinyl ester matrix. We have evaluated the mechanical properties, particularly flexural, tensile, impact strength, and hardness, to assess the performance of the bio-composites. The mechanical testing showed that adding up to 15 wt.% hemp fiber reinforcement increased the tensile, flexural, and impact strengths. The highest values reached were 67.7 MPa for tensile strength, 67.37 MPa for flexural strength, and 13.9 J/m 2 for impact strength. After that, these strengths started to decrease. The Rockwell hardness at [Formula: see text] scale, on the other hand, showed a steady rise in hardness, reaching a 100% increase at 20 wt.%, which is 142 HRL compared to 69 HRL for the virgin vinyl ester matrix. In addition, the density test showed a slight steady drop, with the lowest value of 1.25 g/cm 3 at 20 wt.% compared to 1.35 g/cm 3 at 0 wt.%, hemp reinforced. The results indicate that 15 wt.%, reinforcement achieves the optimal strength and toughness, whereas increased fiber loading improves hardness but diminishes density. The results show that hemp-reinforced vinyl ester composites could be a good alternative to synthetic materials for prosthetic sockets because they are light, strong, and good for the environment. In addition to discussing the challenges that require attention, the paper emphasizes the advancements and developments in the aforementioned subject.