THE EFFECT OF AUTOCLAVE POLYMERIZATION ON THE TENSILE STRENGTH OF VARIOUS DENTURE BASE MATERIALS

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of autoclave polymerization method on the tensile strength of the polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) acrylic denture base resins. Materials and Methods: Total of 60 specimens were fabricated from four different denture base materials such as three heat polymerized dental resins Meliodent, Paladent, and QC-20 and one microwave polymerized resin Acron MC. The tensile strength tests were performed. Results: Acron-MC showed the highest tensile strength value, QC-20, Paladent and Meliodent were followed in order for the control group. Acron MC was significantly different than the other acrylic resins for the control and autoclave polymerization 10 minutes groups (p<0.01). Autoclave polymerized acrylic resin specimens showed higher tensile strength values than the control groups (p<0.01). There was no significant difference between the increasing time of autoclave polymerization methods 10 minutes and 20 minutes (p>0.01) Conclusion: Within the limitations of the study, autoclave polymerization method may provide a stronger alternative to conventional polymerization methods. Autoclave polymerization method provides high temperature that the activation ratio of cross-linking agents (glycoldimethacrylate) can be increased.