Abstract
Background: Poly (methyl methacrylate) is one of the most widely accepted biomaterial in prosthetic dentistry due to its acceptable advantages. However the conventional PMMA used are far from being ideal because of their inferior mechanical properties. So the present study is to determine the Vickers Hardness and specific wear rate of the polypropylene reinforced PMMA.
Aim: Determination of Vickers Hardness number and specific wear rate of PMMA denture base by varying the weight percentage of polypropylene fiber and by varying the aspect ratio of polypropylene fiber.
Materials and Methods: To measure the Vickers hardness, specimens prepared, using a standard rectangular mold of 62 mm length, 10 mm breadth and 2.5 mm thickness. Vickers Hardness number measured using Vickers hardness test apparatus having square based diamond pyramid as indenter. For wear analysis, specimens prepared, using a standard cylindrical mold of 8 mm diameter and 25 mm length. Specific wear rate measured after measuring the weight loss in the pin on disc method by Wear and Friction Monitor TR-20ICL. Microstructure of the abraded surface observed through Trinocular inverted metallurgical microscope model Metji M1004. Detailed statistical analysis performed using One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Turkey-Kramer Multiple Comparisons Test.
Results: Polypropylene reinforced PMMA shown superior Vickers hardness number compare to control and the specific wear rate for the reinforced groups were less compare to control.