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Aparna G. Pathade,
AHM Vishwanath Swamy,
- Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, Krishna Institute of Science and Technology, Krishna Vishwa Vidyapeeth “Deemed to be University”, Taluka-Karad, Dist-Satara, Maharashtra,
- Principal, Department of Pharmacology, KLE College of Pharmacy, Hubballi, Karnataka, India
Abstract
The most important property of the PDMS elastomers is their high biocompatibility, skin-like appearance, chemical stability, and flexibility, which make them ideal for use in maxillofacial and soft tissue prosthetics. Their relatively low tensile strength, tear resistance and long-term mechanical durability, however, restrict their clinical use. This work aimed to investigate the effect of systematic polyester fibre loading on the mechanical properties of PDMS elastomer composites for soft-tissue prosthetic applications. The PDMS formulations were commercially available (Platsil Gel 10 and Platsil Gel 00-30) and short polyester fibers were added to these formulations to get different concentrations (0–4 wt%) by using a standard mixing, vacuum degassing and molding process. Mechanical properties were determined based on ASTM and ISO standards such as Hardness, Tensile Strength, and Elongation at Break. The mechanical reinforcement effect increased with fibre loading, although the incremental improvement in tensile strength decreased at higher fibre concentrations. Elongation, however, decreased with increasing fibre loading, indicating reduced extensibility of the composites. Despite these benefits, conventional PDMS has some mechanical drawbacks that can hinder its long-term performance in clinical applications. The findings indicate that controlled polyester fibre incorporation may be useful for tailoring the mechanical performance of PDMS composites for soft-tissue prosthetic applications.
Keywords: PDMS; Polyester Fibre; Polymer Composites; Elastomer; Mechanical Properties; Soft-Tissue Prostheses.
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Journal of Polymer & Composites
| Volume | 14 | |
| 05 | ||
| Received | 22/08/2026 | |
| Accepted | 18/09/2026 | |
| Published | 07/10/2026 | |
| Publication Time | 46 Days |