Effect of hydrothermal aging on the microhardness of high- and low-viscosity conventional and additively manufactured polymers

Abstract

Statement of problemStudies on the microhardness of novel additively manufactured polymers compared with well-established low- and high-viscosity composite resins with regard to chemical composition are lacking. PurposeThe purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of hydrothermal aging on the microhardness of various conventional and additively manufactured polymers. Material and methodsCylindrically shaped specimens (N=240, n=10 per group) (Ø10×2 mm) were either additively manufactured (6 groups) or conventionally (6 groups) manufactured by using 3D (Optiprint Temp [OP; Dentona]; C&B MFH [ND; NextDent]; Saremco print CROWNTEC [SA; Saremco Dental AG]; Temp Print [TP; GC]; 3DELTA ETEMP [DM; Deltamed]; MED690 [ST; Stratasys, Ltd]) or conventional low (Gradia Direct [GR; GC]; Clearfil Majesty [CM; Kuraray Noritake]; Tetric EvoCeram [TE; Ivoclar AG]) and high (Gradia Direct Flo [GR-F; GC]; Clearfil Majesty Flow [CM-F; Kuraray Noritake]; Tetric EvoFlow [TE-F; Ivoclar AG]) viscous materials. All specimens were randomly allotted to 2 different aging methods (no-aging [dry] or aging by thermocycling [TC], ×6000, 5 °C-55 °C) and Vickers hardness (VH) tested (ZHV30; Zwick). Three indentations were made on each specimen (0.98-N load, duration 15 seconds). The calculated average microhardness value of each specimen was statistically analyzed by using 2-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc tests (α=.05). Two-parameter Weibull distribution was calculated to predict the reliability of material type and aging method on VH. ResultsThe mean ±standard deviation VH ranged between 17 ±0.5 VHN and 68 ±0.5 VHN in the following ascending order: group STa<OPb, NDb<SAc, TPc<GRd, GR-Fd<DMe, TE-Fe<CMf<TEg<CM-Fh. The groups with the same superscript were not significantly different from each other (P>.05). The mean ±standard deviation of HV for aged (37 ±1 VHN) and nonaged (35 ±1 VHN) specimens were statistically similar (P>.05). The Weibull distribution values presented the highest shape for the aged group SA (37.81). ConclusionsThe choice of the material had a significant effect and resulted in lower hardness for the 3-dimensionally printed materials than for the conventional composite resins. Under fatigue conditions, the choice of the material showed no significant difference when the Vickers microhardness was evaluated.