Bonding Behavior Between Polyetheretherketone and Polymethylmethacrylate Acrylic Denture Polymer

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomaterials Engineering
• Dental Materials

Background:

• Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) are widely used dental materials.
• Achieving durable bonds between PEEK and PMMA is crucial for prosthetic applications.
• Surface pretreatment and conditioning methods significantly influence interfacial adhesion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effects of various air abrasion parameters and conditioning agents on the shear bond strength (SBS) between PEEK and PMMA.
• To assess the impact of these pretreatments on surface free energy (SFE) and surface roughness (SR) of PEEK.
• To determine the optimal pretreatment and conditioning strategy for enhanced PEEK-PMMA bonding.

Main Methods:

• PEEK substrates were subjected to air abrasion using different aluminum oxide (Al2O3) particle sizes and pressures.
• Surface properties (SFE, SR) were measured, and scanning electron microscopy was employed.
• Substrates were conditioned with Visio.link (VL), Scotchbond Universal (SU), Bonding Fluid (BF), or no conditioning (WC).
• SBS and fracture modes were tested before and after thermal cycling.

Main Results:

• Increased Al2O3 particle size and pressure during air abrasion led to higher SBS and improved Weibull parameters.
• The optimal pretreatment (0.4 MPa - 110 µm Al2O3) significantly outperformed the control group (no abrasion).
• Visio.link (VL) conditioning resulted in significantly higher SBS compared to SU, BF, and WC.
• Air abrasion increased PEEK surface roughness (SR) but did not affect surface free energy (SFE).

Conclusions:

• Pretreatment of PEEK with 0.4 MPa - 110 µm Al2O3 is highly recommended for improving PEEK-PMMA bond strength.
• The use of Visio.link (VL) as a conditioning agent can further enhance the shear bond strength between these materials.
• Optimized surface preparation is critical for the long-term clinical success of PEEK-PMMA restorations.