Influence of contact stress, sliding velocity, and surface roughness on the sliding wear of a composite restorative.

Abstract

The influence of several experimental parameters on the sliding-wear behavior of a composite restorative has been examined. The results demonstrate that: 1) Changes in surface finish and sliding velocity have little effect on the moderate wear-rate observed at nominal levels of stress, and 2) increased contact stress can profoundly alter wear mechanisms and produce marked surface failure at levels well within the range associated with human mastication.