Flexural strength of a provisional resin material with fibre addition

The effect of fibre addition on the flexural strength of a resin was studied. A provisional material (ALIKE; GC America Inc.) was used as the control and resinous matrix. Silane treated glass fibre was selected for the reinforcing treatment. In order to determine the geometric influence on the strength, ordered fibres (1 w/o) were immersed within a resinous matrix in four different locations. In addition, randomly dispersed fibres, 5 mm in length, were blended at 1 w/o up to 8 w/o with acrylic powder and moulded into rectangular specimens (34 mm x 9 mm x 8 mm) with P:L = 2:1. Ten specimens were prepared for each group. A three-point flexural test was run using a span of 25 mm at a rate of 5 mm/min. The strength values were collected and analysed with ANOVA and Scheffe tests. The strengths of the specimens with orientated fibre addition ranged from 49.4 (s.d. = 5.7) to 64.5 (6.7) MPa and the control was 54.3 (4.0) MPa. In the dispersed groups, the strengths obtained ranged from 55.9 (5.9) to 87.3 (7.9) MPa. The results disclosed that inclusion of orientated fibres horizontally on the tension side of the specimens significantly improved the flexural strength compared with the control (P < 0.05). An optimal strength was obtained in the group of provisional resin containing 5 w/o dispersed fibre. Incorporation of glass fibres significantly improved the flexural strength of the resin and the dispersed method is more efficient than the orientated inclusion method.