Effect of different mixing and curing methods on the mechanical properties of denture base resin

Abstract

To investigate the differences between the mechanical properties of denture base processed by traditional mixing and malaxation method, and by traditional hot water polymerization and electrical heat-polymerization. Samples used in this investigation were commercial acrylic denture base resin made by using two different mixing methods, and by using two different curing methods. The samples were assigned to 4 test groups. Group 1: traditional mixing + hot water polymerization. Group 2: malaxation + hot water polymerization. Group 3: traditional mixing + electrical heat-polymerization. Group 4: malaxation + electrical heat-polymerization. Surface hardness, flexural strength, flexural modulus, and impact strength were tested of each sample. The mean of the four groups' surface hardness was 19.4, 21.2, 22.3, 23.2 N/mm2, and of flexural strength was 58.58, 63.32, 66.73, 63.76 MPa, and of impact strength was 1.42, 1.53, 1.77, 1.78 KJ/m2, and of flexural modulus was 2311.38, 2417.82, 2566.36, 2400.37 MPa. Surface hardness and impact strength of malaxation method + electrical heat-polymerization group are higher than those of traditional mixing + hot water polymerization group.