Flexural strength of acrylic resin repairs processed by different methods: water bath, microwave energy and chemical polymerization

Denture fractures are common in daily practice, causing inconvenience to the patient and to the dentists. Denture repairs should have adequate strength, dimensional stability and color match, and should be easily and quickly performed as well as relatively inexpensive. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the flexural strength of acrylic resin repairs processed by different methods: warm water-bath, microwave energy, and chemical polymerization. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty rectangular specimens (31x10x2.5 mm) were made with warm water-bath acrylic resin (Lucitone 550) and grouped (15 specimens per group) according to the resin type used to make repair procedure: 1) specimens of warm water-bath resin (Lucitone 550) without repair (control group); 2) specimens of warm water-bath resin repaired with warm water-bath; 3) specimens of warm water-bath resin repaired with microwave resin (Acron MC); 4) specimens of warm water-bath resin repaired with autopolymerized acrylic resin (Simplex). Flexural strength was measured with the three-point bending in a universal testing machine (MTS 810 Material Test System) with load cell of 100 kgf under constant speed of 5 mm/min. Data were analyzed statistically by Kruskal-Wallis test (p<0.05). RESULTS: The control group showed the best result (156.04±1.82 MPa). Significant differences were found among repaired specimens and the results were decreasing as follows: group 3 (43.02±2.25 MPa), group 2 (36.21±1.20 MPa) and group 4 (6.74±0.85 MPa). CONCLUSION: All repaired specimens demonstrated lower flexural strength than the control group. Repairs with autopolymerized acrylic resin showed the lowest flexural strength.

Mechanical properties of denture base resins: An evaluation.

Background: Acrylic resin dentures are susceptible to fracture after clinical use, which is a problem of concern in prosthodontics. Impact failure outside the mouth and flexure fatigue failure in the mouth are two most important causes of fracture of denture base. Aim: This study evaluated the transverse deflection and transverse strength of four commercial brands of heat cure acrylic resin (Stellon, Acrylin-H, Trevalon and Trevalon-HI). Materials and Methods: An experimental design was adapted. Twenty-four rectangular strip specimens, six for each group, were prepared. Strips were finished on the edges and equally from the both the molded surfaces to make strips of specific dimensions. The tests were conducted mainly in accordance with the American Dental Association Specification no. 12/ISO: 1567-1981 (ISO: 6887-1986) for denture base polymer. The transverse deflection and transverse strength were measured by Instron testing machine. Intergroup differences were assessed using student "t" test. Results: The heat cure denture base material D (Trevalon "HI") had the minimum mean value of transverse deflection under different loads. Trevalon "HI" also had minimum value of mean transverse strength among different brands of acrylic resins. There was no statistically significant variation between Stellon, Acrylin-H and Trevalon, but variation was significantly higher with D (Trevalon "HI") vs. Stellon, Acrylin-H and Trevalon. Conclusion: The heat cure denture base material D (Trevalon "HI") was the strongest and C (Trevalon) was the weakest among all materials used in this study. The study showed that the deflection of various denture base resins (A to D) increases proportionately with the increase in load.