Tensile bond strength of maxillofacial adhesives

A common technique for fixation of facial prostheses is the use of skin adhesives. The present study compared the tensile bond strength of five RTV-silicone elastomers used with four different skin adhesives to human skin. The elastomers were: Silskin II, MDX4-4210, Cosmesil, Cosmesil HC2, and RS 330 T-RTV. The adhesives were: Dow Corning 355 medical adhesive, PSA 1, Daro, and 9874 3M double-coated medical tape. The RTV silicones were cured as described by the manufacturer, fixed in circular metal holders, and glued to the skin (inner aspect of forearm) with the various adhesives. The specimens were pulled off 20 seconds after fixation by use of a universal testing machine with a crosshead speed of 1 mm/minute. Eight specimens of each silicone and adhesive combination were tested, and a mean bond strength was calculated for each combination and compared by Duncan's multiple range test on a personal computer. Significant differences were observed among the various combinations of silicones and adhesives. Dow Corning 355 adhesive showed the highest bond strength with all materials, and the medical tape had the lowest. Differences between the RTV silicones were also significant. The strongest bond with all adhesives was MDX4-4210 elastomer and the weakest for RS 330 T-RTV elastomer.