Sciences in prosthetic augmentation have advanced over the years, giving amputees the strength and hope they need to carry on. As time went on, we’ve come from simple plastic limbs to being close to implementing robotics. Now, carbon fiber prosthetics will make lives that much easier for those who have lost their limbs.
Over the years, studies have tried to make prosthetics more accessible and lighter, with them getting better by the year. This is why carbon fiber is the best prosthetic material for making prosthetic limbs.
What makes carbon fiber a good material, though? Well, here we’ll explain why more augments need to be the gold standard for all prosthetics.
Why Carbon Fiber Prosthetics?
What makes carbon such a useful tool is how strong it can become after a dip in resin. The fibers then get twisted into almost like a string of yarn; they can be shaped to virtually anything needed.
This ends up making the substance hard, like plastic almost, and the tensile strength of steel while being extremely light. When making prosthetics for arms and legs, this is very vital to have.
How Is Carbon Fiber Used in Prosthetics?
It has been used for prosthetics, mostly athletes who still take part in sporting events. Between sprinters, marathon runners, swimmers, and decathletes use prosthetics made from carbon fiber.
It’s durable enough to use during high-intensity training while still being lightweight so that it doesn’t hinder their performance.
Over the years, some of the best carbon fiber manufacturers have made advancements with their products, coming in a variety of shapes and uses. Although expensive, the price is worth the quality and the dependability.
Even certain leg braces made of carbon fibers are a huge benefit to those with leg problems due to the material’s flexibility and how secure it feels when wearing the brace.
Pros and Cons of Carbon Fiber
Now some advantages are well known for carbon fiber being used; however, it is not perfect.
The main benefits of carbon fiber material are its durability and lightweight. Even more impressive is how little thermal expansion it has during high or low temperatures.
As good as this sounds, however, carbon fibers are often considered a luxury item due to the high cost that it takes up to produce them.
In addition, the material can break when under a massive amount of pressure and isn’t as durable as titanium. It may be strong enough to support human weight, but it can crack if hit with enough blunt force.
Here’s a list of the pros and cons to simplify things:
Pros
- Lightweight
- Extremely durable
- Flexible
- Good temperature resistant
- High strength
Cons
- Very expensive
- Can break when under massive pressure
An Investment Worth Looking Into
With all the benefits that carbon fiber prosthetics can bring, it is definitely something that cannot be overlooked and should provide more help to those who want a second chance in living their lives to their fullest.
Finding the best manufacturer of the material should be looked into, as well as checking what is the best carbon fiber material that can be used for prosthetics.
If you would like to know more or like to see what other benefits carbon fiber could have, feel free to check out the rest of our articles or contact us on our blog page.
