Effect of Natural Fillers on the Tensile and Flexural Properties of PMMA used in Denture Manufacture

Abstract

Abstract The mechanical properties of the dental are very important in order to make the proper selection of the right material to be used by the dentist. The effect of natural filler on the mechanical properties of PMMA used for denture manufacture has been investigated. Three natural materials, which are Siwak, Pomegranate, and Olive, are selected. The filler is prepared by grinding the material and sieving it to get the filler with a grain size of 50, 75, and 100 μm for each. The filler is added with three weight fractions in which become four parameters with three levels. Using the standard Taguchi’s array L9 (43). S/N ratio and ANOVA are used to determine the optimum process parameters with their significant factor. The results show that the optimal parameters combination with their levels for higher modulus of elasticity appear by using grain size of 75 μm with (0.6% Olive, 0.6% Pomegranate, and 0.9% Siwak) filler weight fraction. Whereas for the tensile strength and bending strength at (100 μm, with (0.6% Olive, 1.2% Pomegranate and 0.9% Siwak)) and 75 μm, with (0.9% Olive, 0.6% Pomegranate and 0.9% Siwak) respectively. The Siwak filler has the most significant influence on the mechanical properties with contribution ranged from (25-52) %, followed by pomegranate filler. The grain size affects tensile strength more than the other mechanical properties. The experimental and predicted results are very close, with errors not exceed 4%.