A Preliminary Investigation on Physicomechanical Properties of High-Performance Polymers Reinforced on...

Additive manufacturing (AM) techniques in denture manufacturing offer advantages such as customization and rapid production but might exhibit weaknesses in mechanical strength and durability. This study aimed to evaluate the physicomechanical characterization of 3D-printed dentures base by enhancement with high performance polymers Polyetherimide (PEI) microfillers reinforcement for potential improvement.

The PEI microfillers (ULTEMTM 1000 PEI; SABIC) were incorporated into the 3D printing denture base resin (NextDent Denture 3D+; 3D systems) through polymer blending at various concentrations of 0.5, 1, 2, 3% (w/w) respectively and printed using LCD 3D printer (Mono 4K; Anycubic). The mechanical and physical properties were characterized in flexural strength and modulus, fracture toughness, and surface morphology utilizing Universal Testing Machine (SLBL-5kN; Shimadzu) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) (JSM 4600 SEM; JEOL).

The incorporation of PEI micro fillers had increased the mechanical properties of the 3D printing denture base resin. The 0.5% group demonstrated the greatest flexural strength (101.5±3.73 MPa) among all tested group (p<0.001). However, the flexural strength deteriorated as the composite ratio increased above 0.5% (p=0.054). All the reinforced denture base resin groups have a higher flexural strength over the unmodified resin. In the fracture toughness, the 0.5% group exhibited the greatest fracture toughness and the property decrease as the filler content increased above 0.5% (p<0.001). One-way ANOVA were performed. The microfillers were consistently rounded under SEM.

This study confirmed that the incorporation of micro fillers demonstrated potential in enhancing the physicomechanical properties of the 3D printed denture base material.