Impact of Different Fiber Reinforcement on Flexural Strength, Fracture Toughness and Abrasive Resistance of Provisional Restorative Resin

Abstract

Aim: To assess and compare the impact of reinforcement of PMMA with glass fibre, polyethylene fibre and carbon fibres on flexural strength, fracture toughness and abrasive resistance. Background: In view of inadequate mechanical and physical characteristics of PMMA which include low impact strength and low surface hardness and resulting lowered clinical performance of the prosthesis, the study was designed to investigate the impact of reinforcement of PMMA with glass, polyethylene and carbon fibers on flexural strength, fracture toughness and abrasive resistance. Methods and Findings: Rectangular specimens (n=120; 30 each from 4 groups; 65 × 10 × 3.3 mm3) were fabricated and loaded on Universal Testing Machine until fracture for flexural strength and fracture toughness and on Taber Abrasive Tester for abrasive resistance. Data were analyzed using one–way ANOVA followed by Post Hoc test - Bonferroni multiple comparison analysis, using significance level of 0.05. Significant increase in fracture toughness was observed in specimens reinforced with polyethylene and carbon fiber, albeit the values of flexural strength were increased insignificantly. Specimens reinforced with glass and carbon fiber had significantly low values of abrasive resistance. Conclusion: Findings indicate that reinforcement of PMMA by non-specific fibers like glass, polyethylene and carbon resulted in significant increase in fracture toughness and decrease in abrasive resistance.