Synthesis of PMMA/ZNO nanoparticles composite used for resin teeth

Abstract

Wear resistance is one of the most important physical properties of the artificial teeth used in acrylic dentures. The goal of this research was to synthesize a new composite material made of matrix Poly-(methyl methacrylate)-PMMA with different percentages (2 % and 3 % of volume fractions) of zinc-oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) as reinforcing elements, to improve its mechanical properties. The dynamic mechanical behaviour of this composite was studied through the DMA method in comparison to the pure PMMA supported by the characterization of their microstructures. Then the wear resistance was analysed on the samples, which were prepared in the form of teeth. In this context their vertical height loss was measured after 100,000 chewing cycles on a chewing simulator, before and after the artificial thermal ageing. Investigations showed that the PMMA/ZnO NP composites dampened the vibrations better than the pure PMMA, which could be assigned to the homogenous distribution of ZnO NPs in the PMMA matrix. It was found that the mean vertical height loss for the pure PMMA teeth was significantly higher (more than 4 times) compared to composite teeth made with ZnO NPs. Introducing the thermal artificial ageing led to the finding that there was no effect on the height loss by the composite material with 3 % of volume fractions of ZnO NPs. Based on this it was concluded that PMMA/ZnO NPs composites showed improved in-vitro wear resistance compared to acrylic-resin denture teeth, so this new composite material should be preferred when occlusal stability is considered to be of high priority.