Deformation and flexural properties of denture base polymer reinforced with glass fiber sheet

The purpose of this study was to investigate the deformation and flexural properties of acrylic and urethane polymers reinforced with glass fiber sheet. Four types of specimen--self-curing resin plate (R), light-curing oligomer plate containing a reinforcement (GO), and self-curing resin plate containing a reinforcement on one (GR) or both (GRG) sides--were prepared with three thicknesses: 1.5, 2.4, and 3.0 mm. Gaps between polymerized test specimen and a standard metal plate were measured at the corner (C), middle of the long sides (LS), and middle of the short sides (SS). The gaps for R were 0-2.0 microm. GO and GR markedly deformed at Points C, LS, and SS, and the degree of deformation increased as GO became thinner. Flexural strength was significantly increased by the reinforcement (p < 0.05). The flexural moduli of 3.0-mm thick R, GO, and GR were significantly smaller than that of 1.5-mm thick specimens.