Evaluation of the Effect of Different Surface Treatments on Bond Strength of Heat Cured Acrylic Resin at Co-Cr Alloy and PEEK Polymer Interface

ABSTRACT

Problem statement A significant clinical concern in Co-Cr alloy removable prosthodontics is a failure of bonding with acrylic resins and PEEK is introduced on various materials to overcome this problem. The reason for this study was to examine the denture base acrylic resin bond strength to Co-Cr alloy and PEEK polymer using different surface treatment. Materials and method: Total 60 number of disc-shaped specimens were prepared and divided into 2 main groups according to the type of framework material, 30 specimens for Co-Cr alloy and 30 specimens for PEEK polymer, which were then subdivided into 3 groups each one consist of 10 specimens, according to the type of surface treatments. Each group either had a no surface treatment (control group) or air abrasive group (110 μm of alumina oxide) or acid etch (98% sulfuric acid) group. The specimens were thermocycled (3000 cycles) after applications of heat cured acrylic resin. Results: The results for Co-Cr alloy showed that the air abrasive surface treatments had the highest bond strength mean value followed by the control group (no surface treatment), while the acid surface treatment had the least mean value of bond strength. For PEEK polymer, the results revealed that the acid surface treatment had the highest value of bond strength followed by the air abrasive surface treatment while the control group (no surface treatment) had the least bond strength mean value. Conclusion: Air abrasive surface treatment significantly improved bond strength for both Co-Cr and PEEK, while sulfuric acid treatment show counterproductive result with Co-Cr alloy whereas with PEEK play an important role in bonding mechanism. The use of PEEK framework in combination with heat cured acrylic resin can be recommended as a promising non-metallic alternatives framework material for removable of partial dentures.