Influence of Concentrations of Methacrylate and Acrylate Monomers on the Properties of Fiber Reinforced Polymethyl Methacrylate Denture Base Materials

Abstract The study aimed to evaluate the effects of adding different concentrations of 2 hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA), ethyl methacrylate (EA) and isobutyl methacrylate (IBMA) monomers on the structural, thermal and mechanical properties of a fiber reinforced heat-polymerized acrylic resin. For each test, 126 acrylic resin specimens were fabricated and divided into 6 groups with 7 specimens each. One group was the control group, the other one is a fiber reinforced group and others were the test groups, which were formed according to the different concentrations of monomers. 6 mm length, and the weight ratio of 3% short glass fibers are added to acrylic powder polymerized by heating. The 2%, 5%, 10%, at 20 % ratios of different comonomers added to a monomer of MMA are composed of copolymer structures. Flexural strength was assessed with a three-point bending test using a universal testing machine. Impact strength testing was conducted using an impact test machine by the Charpy method. The analysis of the connection between acrylic resin and fiber by SEM and structural changes in the acrylic resin was investigated by FTIR spectroscopy. Data analyses using analysis of Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests (α=0.05) significant difference tests showed that adding 2%, 5% HEMA and IBMA monomers significantly increased the flexural and impact strength compared to the control, only fiber and others group (P< 0.05). It is observed that the process of adding low concentration of HEMA and IBMA monomers improved certain mechanical properties of fiber reinforced with polymethylmethacrylate.