Effects of coupling agents on the properties of poly (methyl methacrylate) /hydroxyapatite composites for denture base application

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Date
2011
Authors
Wei Ling, Tham
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Abstract
Poly( methyl methcrylate) (PMMA) composites containing 5 wt% hydroxyapatite (HA) was prepared by using heat-processing polymers powder and liquid method. In phase 1, both PMMA and HA powder were grounded using planetary ball milling. The effects of the grinding time and particle size of the PMMA/HA powder on the flexural properties and morphology of the composites was investigated. The suitable grinding time is 90 min. For the planetary ball mill-ground PMMA/HA powder, the flexural modulus of the respective PMMA composites was slightly increased. Planetary milling is capable of increasing the surface area of fine particles in the composites specimens, which resulted in a more homogeneous distribution of HA and a reduction of void contents in PMMA matrix. This phenomenon was evidenced by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). In phase 2, HA was surface treated with three types of coupling agent, i.e., silane coupling agent, titanate coupling agent and zirconate coupling agent with different concentrations based on HA (2, 4, 6, and 8%). The chemical treatment of HA was examined using fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The mechanical properties of PMMA/5HA composites were characterized using tensile, 3-point bending flexural and fracture toughness tests. The improvement of the mechanical properties could be related to the enhancement of interfacial interaction between PMMA and HA by the surface treatment of coupling agents which can be evidenced by FESEM and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). The thermal properties of PMMA/5HA composites were evaluated using dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMT A), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry analysis (TGA). The thermal properties of PMMA/HA composite was increased significantly by the y-MPS treatment. In phase 3, the kinetics of water absorption and simulated body fluid (SBF) absorption and their effects on the flexural properties for PMMA/HA composites was studied for an immersion period of 2 months. The mathematical treatment used in analyzing the data was the single free phase model of diffusion, which assumed Fickian diffusion and utilized Fick's second law of diffusion. The kinetics of water absorption and SBF absorption of the PMMA/HA composites conformed to Fickian law behavior, whereby the initial moisture absorption follows a linear relationship between the percentage weight gain at any time t and tl/2, followed by saturation. For X-ray evaluation test, it was found that the radiopacity behaviour of the PMMA/HA was improved by the coupling agent treatment. In overall, PMMAJHA composite treated with y-MPS can achieved a balance of properties in term of mechanical, thermal, water barrier and radiopacity behavior in which make it suita.ble for denture base application.
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Keywords
Poly (methyl methcrylate) , Denture base , Coupling agents
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