SLA-printed nanographite-reinforced UV-curable resin composites for dental applications

This study investigates stereolithography (SLA)-printed nanographite (NG)-reinforced UV-curable resin composites for dental applications. Anycubic plant-based resin was modified with 0, 0.5, 1, 3, and 5 wt% NG and evaluated for viscosity, UV absorbance, moisture content, water absorption, gel content, tensile, flexural, hardness, and microstructural behavior. The viscosity remained suitable for printing, decreasing slightly from 139 mPa·s for the control to 134 mPa·s at 5% NG. The 1% NG composite showed the best overall performance, with the highest tensile strength (20 MPa), compared to 18 MPa for the control, and the highest flexural stress (50 MPa) and Shore D hardness (72). The control hardness was 70, while 5% NG dropped to 59. Gel content decreased from 99.86% (control) to 99.24% (5% NG), but higher loadings increased moisture and water uptake. Microscopy and SEM confirmed that 1% NG produced the most uniform morphology, whereas 3-5% NG showed agglomeration and defects. The results demonstrate that the controlled addition of NG enhances the mechanical performance of SLA-printed UV-curable resin composites, indicating their potential for provisional dental prosthetics applications.