Design of a wicking apparatus and environmental chamber to determine properties of prosthetic socks

Wickability is the ability of a fabric or fiber to draw moisture out of the prosthetic socket via capillary pressure after moisture permeates the fabric. This study will determine the wicking properties (capillary pressure and permeability), of prosthetic sock materials using a wicking test apparatus. An environmental chamber is needed to prevent moisture loss from the fabric sample via evaporation during experiments. Decreased evaporation will increase the repeatability of the results. The environmental chamber will control the relative humidity for a wicking test at 90% ± 2% at a temperature of 35†C ± 2†C.