Mechanical and Tribological Performance of Self-Cured Poly Methyl Methacrylate Reinforced by Alumina Nanowires and Zirconia Nanoparticles for Denture Applications

Abstract

Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is one of the common widely accepted biomaterials in prosthetic dentistry due to its acceptable advantages, since 1937. In the present work, PMMA reinforced with Al2O3 nanowires (Al2O3 NWs) and ZrO2 nanoparticles (ZrO2 NPs) were fabricated by a self-curing method. Mechanical and tribological tests were conducted to study the effect of nanofillers on the mechanical and tribological performance of PMMA nanocomposites. Compression and microhardness tests, as mechanical tests, were accomplished to estimate the elastic modulus and microhardness number of the present nanocomposites. Also, tribological properties of unfilled PMMA and its nanocomposites were realized by pin-on-disk tester under dry sliding conditions. Wear test was conducted at room temperature under applied loads of 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 N at a constant sliding speed and distance of 1.256 m/s and 226 m, respectively to study wear rate and coefficient of friction (COF) of the nanocomposites. Experimental results revealed that the elastic modulus, microhardness, wear rate, and COF were enhanced with increasing nanofiller content up to 0.5 and 0.7 wt. % of Al2O3 NWs and ZrO2 NPs, respectively. Also, wear rate increased with increasing applied loads up to 50 N, while COF decreased with increasing applied loads up to 40 N. Finally, specimens� worn surfaces were examined and imaged using scanning electron microscope (SEM).