Tensile fatigue limits of prosthodontic adhesives

Tensile fatigue limits and ultimate tensile strengths of some prosthodontic adhesive systems were determined. Ni-Cr-Be cylinders were: electro-etched, chemically etched, and sand-blasted prior to being bonded end-to-end with BIS-GMA and 4-META adhesives. Bonded specimens were stored in distilled de-ionized water for three days prior to being tested. Fifteen paired specimens per group were subjected to a cyclic tensile load for 1000 cycles. Tensile fatigue limits were determined by the staircase method. Five specimens per group were tested for ultimate tensile strength. In addition, those specimens which survived the 1000 cycles during fatigue testing were also tested for ultimate tensile strength. Statistical evaluations to compare tensile fatigue limits and ultimate tensile strengths for fatigued and non-fatigued specimens were then performed. The results indicated that the tensile fatigue limit and the ratio of fatigue limit to ultimate tensile strength of the sand-blasted, 4-META adhesive system were significantly lower than those of the other systems tested. The application of a cyclic load significantly decreased the ultimate tensile bond strength of the 4-META adhesive. Application of a cyclic load had no significant effect on the ultimate tensile bond strengths of the BIS-GMA systems tested.