A Preliminary Investigation on Physicomechanical Properties of High-Performance Polymers Reinforced on 3D-Printed Denture Bases.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the physicomechanical characterization of 3D-printed denture bases after reinforcement with high-performance polyetherimide (PEI) microfillers.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

The PEI microfillers (ULTEM 1000 PEI, SABIC) were incorporated into the 3D-printing denture base resin (NextDent Denture 3D+, 3D Systems) through polymer blending at various concentrations of 0.5%, 1%, 2%, and 3% (w/w), respectively, and printed using an LCD 3D printer (Mono 4K, Anycubic). The mechanical and physical properties were characterized by flexural strength and modulus, fracture toughness, and surface morphology using a universal testing machine (SLBL-5kN, Shimadzu) and scanning electron microscope (SEM; JSM 4600 SEM, JEOL).

RESULTS

The incorporation of PEI microfillers increased the mechanical properties of the 3D-printing denture base resin. The 0.5% group demonstrated the greatest flexural strength (101.5 ± 3.73 MPa) among all tested groups (P < .001). However, the flexural strength deteriorated as the composite ratio increased above 0.5% (P = .054). All the reinforced denture base resin groups had a higher flexural strength compared to the unmodified resin. For fracture toughness, the 0.5% group exhibited the greatest fracture toughness, and this property decreased as the filler content increased above 0.5% (P < .001). The microfillers were consistently rounded under SEM.

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirms that the incorporation of microfillers demonstrates potential in enhancing the physicomechanical properties of 3D-printed denture base material.