Innovative and Eco-Friendly Natural Fiber Composites for Dental Impression Materials: A Study on Wheat Bran Reinforcement.

Abstract

This study addresses the high cost of traditional dental impression materials by introducing a novel composite material reinforced with wheat bran powder, aiming to reduce expenses while maintaining suitable mechanical performance. Tensile and compression test specimens were prepared according to the ASTM D412 and ASTM D575 standards, respectively, to evaluate the mechanical properties of the pure elastomer and the wheat-bran-reinforced composite. Comparative t-tests were conducted to analyze the tensile and compression strengths of both materials, focusing on their cost-effectiveness and suitability for dental applications. The results demonstrate that the wheat-bran-reinforced composite exhibits compression strength (105 MPa) comparable to that of the pure elastomer while offering controlled deformation and enhanced stiffness under compression. Although the composite shows reduced tensile strength (7 MPa vs. 11 MPa), its performance remains adequate for applications requiring moderate tensile properties. Notably, the new material reduces costs by approximately 50%, making it an economical and sustainable alternative for dental impression materials. This innovation aligns with sustainable practices by incorporating natural fibers and offers dentists a cost-effective solution without compromising on performance.