Flexural properties and impact strength of denture base resins reinforced with micronized glass flakes

OBJECTIVES To investigate the effect of the addition of glass flakes on physical properties of conventional heat cure denture base resins and to compare it with a high impact strength denture base resin. MATERIALS AND METHODS Test specimens were divided into Group 1 - poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) (Trevalon), Group 2 - Trevalon HI, Group 3 -5% glass flake +95% PMMA (Trevalon), Group 4 -10% glass flake +90% PMMA (Trevalon), and Group 5 -20% glass flake +80% PMMA (Trevalon). For glass flake modified groups, part of PMMA (powder) was substituted with the same weight of glass flake (GF003 m) as required, to bring it to 100% powder. Flexural strength was tested using three-point bending test and impact strength with Izod type impact tester. RESULTS Plain PMMA (Trevalon), showed the highest value of flexural strength followed by Trevalon HI. Trevalon HI (highly cross-linked PMMA) group showed the highest value of impact strength. CONCLUSION Flexural strength of unmodified PMMA denture base resin decreases with increase in the concentration of glass flakes. Impact strength does not show any significant change at 5% concentration of glass flakes and impact strength significantly reduces with the addition of glass flakes in 10% and 20%.