Flexural strength and Weibull analysis of a microhybrid and a nanofill composite evaluated by 3- and 4-point bending...

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the flexural strength and the Weibull modulus of a microhybrid and a nanofill composite by means of 3- and 4-point bending tests.

Thirty specimens of Filtek Z250 (3M/ESPE) and Filtek Supreme (3M/ESPE) were prepared for each test according to the ISO 4049/2000 specification. After 24h in distilled water at 37 degrees C the specimens were submitted to 3- and 4-point bending tests using a universal testing machine DL2000 (EMIC) with a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min. Flexural strength data were calculated and submitted to Student's t-test (alpha=0.05) and Weibull statistics. The fractured surfaces were analyzed based on fractographic principles.

The two composites had equivalent strength in both test methods. However, the test designs significantly affected the flexural strength of the microhybrid and the nanofill composites. Weibull modulus (m) of Supreme was similar with both tests, while for Z250, a higher m was observed with the 3-point bending test. Critical flaws were most often associated with the specimen's surface (up to 90%) and were characterized as surface scratches/grooves, non-uniform distribution of phases, inclusions and voids.

Flexural strength as measured by the 3-point bending test is higher than by the 4-point bending test, due to the smaller flaw containing area involved in the former. Despite the large difference in average filler size between the composites, the volume fraction of the filler in both materials is similar, which was probably the reason for similar mean flexural strength values and fracture behavior.