ABSTRACT
Sufficient bonding between the framework of the cast alloy and the denture base resin is essential for the clinical success of removable partial dentures. In this study, we investigated whether the silane and alkali treatments improve the chemical bonding between two nickel-chromium alloys and acrylic resin and thus the shear bond strength. A silane solution was prepared using 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane. The alloy specimens were treated with silane and alkali, preparing four experimental groups: untreated (UT), silane treated (ST), alkali treated (AT), and alkali/silane treated (AST) groups. In addition, the contact angles and surface roughness of the alloy surfaces of the four groups were measured. The acrylic resin was bonded to the alloy specimens, and then the resin was polymerized to form a bonded specimen. After measuring the shear bond strength, the failure modes were examined using scanning electron microscopy. Results for all groups were analyzed using two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's multiple comparison test at a significance level of 0.05. The statistical analysis showed no significant differences in Ra value for all groups (p>.05). In the two alloys, the contact angle of the AT group was significantly lower than that of the other groups (p<.05), and that of the AST group was significantly higher than that of the ST group (p<.05). In both alloys, the ST and AST groups showed the higher shear bond strengths (p<.05), while the UT and AT groups showed the lower values. The UT and AT groups showed complete adhesive failure at the fractured surfaces. In this study, the silane treatment was effective to improve the shear bond strength, but the alkali treatment did not show any significant effect.