This document presents a major project proposal on developing natural fiber-reinforced composites for biomedical applications. The project involves fabricating hemp and coir hybrid composites using hand lay-up technique and evaluating their physical, mechanical, biological, surface and chemical properties. The objectives are to fabricate the composites and evaluate their properties for potential use as bone fixtures, joints or ligaments. A literature review was conducted on using natural fibers like hemp and coir in biomedical applications. The project will be completed within the given timeline and a budget of Rs. 7000 has been estimated.

1. MAJOR PROJECT
ON
DEVELOPMENT OF NATURAL FIBER-REINFORCED
COMPOSITES FOR BIOMEDICALAPPLICATIONS
Major project presentation – 1
Project batch number: B5
Name of team members: Name of the Supervisor:
P Srimannarayana – 19R11A0370 Dr. M. Devaiah
M Satyanandam – 19R11A0366 Professor
B Joseph – 19R11A0347 Name of the Co-Supervisor
Md Sarfaraz – 19R11A0365 Dr. R. Sudarshan
Associate Professor

2. CONTENTS
• Abstract
• Problem statement
• Objectives
• Scope of the project
• Literature survey
• References

3. ABSTRACT
• Natural fibers are being preferred over synthetic fibers as reinforcement in
polymeric composites.
• The use of natural fiber in biomedical field, as reinforcement of composites are
economical for increasing their Biomaterial properties, such as physical,
chemical, biological, surface and mechanical.
• Natural fiber contains high strength-to-weight ratio, non-corrosive nature, high
fracture toughness, renewability, and sustainability which gives them unique
advantages over other materials.
• Natural fibres, such as hemp, coir, carbon and silk , are commonly used in the
production of biomedical parts such as bone fixtures, joints, tissues and
ligaments.
• In this project work, hemp and coir hybrid reinforced polymer matrix composites
were fabricated by hand lay-up technique.

4. PROBLEM STATEMENT
• It is seen that usage of metals like titanium and titanium alloys to replace
bone fixtures by an very expensive surgery and rules out the chance of
having any radioactive scanning’s and minimizing the opportunities.
• Natural fiber Reinforced composites have the potential to be used as
reinforcement to overcome the reactions radioactive wave and magnetic
waves.
• Use of natural fibers in a material in unidirectional and two fiber loading
has achieved considerable strength and toughness of the composite.
• A specific chemical composition has to be chosen that satisfies the
biomaterial properties and should be efficient than other metals present.

5. OBJECTIVES
 To fabricate the coir fiber reinforced and hemp fiber-reinforced hybrid
composites using the hand lay-up technique.
 To evaluate the physical, biological, surface, mechanical and chemical
properties of newly fabricated natural composites.
 To study the effect of hybrid composite coir and hemp fibers for
different bodies and circumstances when implanted in the body.

6. SCOPE OF THE PROJECT
• Nowadays applications of hemp fiber and coir fiber are limited up to
textiles, clothing, shoes, food, paper, bioplastics, insulation, ropes and
biofuel goods only.
• Hybrid composite combination of coir and hemp fiber is rare in biomedical
field.
• Coir and hemp reinforced composites are made from hand lay-up
technique by mixing of 25% of hybrid composite and 75% polymer
matrix.
• Natural fiber reinforced polymer composites offer higher biomaterial
properties, ecological and economic advantages.

7. METHODOLOGY
• Step 1 - Defining the Problem and writing an abstract.
• Step 2 - Literature Survey.
• Step 3 – Procurement of the materials required for fabrication.
• Step 4 – Preparation of the Experimental setup (Hand Lay-up).
• Step 5 – Fabrication of the required Composite.
• Step 6 – Preparation of the samples for testing.
• Step 7 – Interpreting the data resulting from testing (results and discussion).
• Step 8 – Drawing conclusions from results and discussions.
• Step 9 – Report writing and submitting.
• Step 10 – Publication of this work in Scopus/Web of Science journal/conference.

8. PROPERTIES TO BE EVALUATED
•Scanning Electron Microscopy
•Mechanical :- Tensile strength, Flexural strength (Bending
Strength), Fracture toughness,
•Physical :- Density, Absorption
•Surface :- Surface tension, Roughness.
•Biological :- Material behaviour in biological environment.
•Chemical :- Composition, Chemistry of the material.

9. APPROXIMATE EXPENDITURE
• Rs.7000

10. PROJECT WORK
COMPLETION TIMELINE (GANTT CHART)

11. LITERATURE SURVEY
• Mohammed et al [1,2], reviewed, the natural fibers are among these materials and are
gradually replacing synthetic fibers made from non-renewable petroleum based resources.
• Ramakrishna et al [3], discussed, the natural fiber added value endows the bio composites
with a wide range of physical, mechanical and biological properties .
• Mouthuy et al [4], discussed, that when it is compared to plant based fibers they are stronger
and more bioactive. Because of their high costs and lower accessibility, their use is restricted
to biomedical applications. In this field, natural fibers have attracted a research interest
towards potential applications. Medical textiles can be used from a simple gauze for wound
dressings to sutures, reconstruction and repair of tissues and bones.
• Namvar et al [5], discussed, the materials for medical purposes require very specific
characteristics, such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, functionability, bioresorbability,
sterilizability, manufacturability, as well as mechanical properties.
• Rajak et al. [6], reviewed and give us the basic details of the various natural fibers like Luffa,
palm, jute, banana, rice husk, kenaf, cotton, sisal, hemp, ramie, flax, silk, carbon, and abaca
also mentioned the synthetic fibers. They provide the reinforcement details and the matrix
with the corresponding applications and production technique in a neat presenting method.

12. Figure: Shows the potential natural fibers for
biomedical applications.

13. REFERENCES
1. Mohammed, L.; Ansari, M.N.M.; Pua, G.; Jawaid, M.; Islam, M.S. A Review on Natural Fiber
Reinforced Polymer Composite and Its Applications. Int. J. Polym. Sci. 2015, 2015, 15.
2. Ramamoorthy, S.K.; Skrifvars, M.; Persson, A. A Review of Natural Fibers Used in Biocomposites:
Plant, Animal and Regenerated Cellulose Fibers. Polym. Rev. 2015, 55, 107–162.
3. Ramakrishna, S.; Huang, Z.M. Biocomposites In Reference Module in Materials Science and
Materials Engineering; Elsevier: Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2016.
4. Mouthuy, P.-A.; Somogyi Škoc, M.; Cipak Gašparovi´c, A.; Milkovi´c, L.; Carr, A.J.; Žarkovi´c, N.
Investigating ˇ the use of curcumin-loaded electrospun filaments for soft tissue repair applications.
Int. J. Nanomed. 2017, 12, 3977–3991.
5. Namvar, F.; Jawaid, M.; Tanir, P.M.; Mohamad, R.; Azizi, S.; Khodavandi, A.; Rahman, H.S.;
Nayeri, M.D. Potential Use of Plant Fibres and their Composites for Biomedical Applications.
BioResources 2014, 9, 19. [CrossRef].
6. D. K. Rajak, D. D. Pagar, P. L. Menezes, and E. Linul, “Fiber-reinforced polymer composites:
manufacturing, properties, and applications,” Polymers, vol. 11, p. 1667, 2019.

14. THANK YOU