Fracture toughness and load relaxation of dentin bonding resin systems.

OBJECTIVES: The fracture toughness (KIC) and load relaxation of four dentin bonding resins were determined to characterize some of the mechanical properties of these materials after polymerization. METHODS: A total of 40 single-edge notch bar specimens were fabricated, 10 each of four commercially available brands, and subjected to three-point bending until fracture, as described in ASTM Standard E399-83 (1991a). The critical stress intensification factor, KIC, was derived for each specimen and compared by analysis of variance and Scheffé's multiple comparisons test (p < 0.01). To study the load relaxation characteristics, five rectangular specimens (without notches) of each brand were subjected to three-point loading until a predetermined limiting load value was reached. The test load was allowed to relax for 4 min, after which the specimen was unloaded to the zero load condition, and the load was allowed to build up on its own accord for 3 min. Load relaxation values were measured from the chart, and the mean percent load drop was calculated. The load relaxation data were compared using analysis of variance and Scheffé's multiple comparisons test (p < 0.05). RESULTS: The fracture toughness (KIC) values of the four adhesive resins studied in this investigation ranged from 0.37-0.94 MPa.m0.5 and were statistically different from each other (p < 0.001). The load relaxation values were found to be greatest within the first 0.5 min, with the total load relaxation of the four bonding agents ranging from 16%-30%. Two of the materials studied showed significantly different short-term load relaxation behavior than the other two resins (p < 0.05). SIGNIFICANCE: Bonding agents can be implicated as one of the factors that weaken the interface between the dentin and the composite restorative material. These materials are capable of a rapid short-term response, demonstrating significant load relaxation in the first 0.5 min after loading.

Bending properties of superelastic and nonsuperelastic nickel-titanium orthodontic wires.

Cantilever bending properties were evaluated for several clinically popular sizes of three superelastic and three nonsuperelastic brands of nickel-titanium orthodontic wires in the as-received condition, and for 0.016-inch diameter wires after heat treatment at 500 degrees and at 600 degrees C, for 10 minutes and for 2 hours. A torque meter apparatus was used for the bending experiments, and the specimen test-span length was 1/4 inch (6 mm). In general, the bending properties were similar for the three brands of superelastic wires and for the three brands of nonsuperelastic wires. For the three brands of superelastic wires, heat treatment at 500 degrees C for 10 minutes had minimal effect on the bending plots, whereas heat treatment at 500 degrees C for 2 hours caused decreases in the average superelastic bending moment during deactivation; heat treatment at 600 degrees C resulted in loss of superelasticity. The bending properties for the three brands of nonsuperelastic wires were only slightly affected by these heat treatments. The differences in the bending properties and heat treatment responses are attributed to the relative proportions of the austenitic and martensitic forms of nickel-titanium alloy (NiTi) in the microstructures of the wire alloys.

Structure and mechanical properties of as-received and heat-treated stainless steel orthodontic wires.

A combination of x-ray diffraction analysis with mechanical testing in tension and bending has been used to investigate the metallurgical structures and mechanical properties for as-received and heat-treated stainless steel orthodontic wires. Two different proprietary wire types were selected, having a wide range in cross-sectional dimensions: 0.016-, 0.030-, and 0.050- or 0.051-inch diameters, and 0.017 X 0.025-inch rectangular specimens. Heat treatments were performed for 10 minutes in air at temperatures of 700 degrees, 900 degrees, and 1100 degrees F. The x-ray diffraction patterns showed that the as-received 0.016-inch diameter and 0.017 X 0.025-inch wires of both proprietary types consisted of a two-phase structure containing a martensitic phase along with the austenitic phase. This duplex structure was converted entirely to austenite with heat treatment for one wire type, but persisted after heat treatment for the other wire type. The largest diameter, 0.050- or 0.051-inch, wires of both types were single-phase austenitic structure for both the as-received and heat-treated conditions. Evidence of substantial preferred crystallographic orientation or texturing in these orthodontic wires was also found by x-ray diffraction. As in our previous studies, the modulus of elasticity in bending was significantly less than the value obtained in tension for only the smaller cross-sectional wires. The 0.05 radian flexural yield strength correlated more closely with the 0.2% offset yield strength in tension than with the yield strength for 0.05% and 0.1% permanent offsets.