The effects of HAp coating layer on mechanical and optical properties at bonding interface of high-performance polymers.

PURPOSE: The effect of hydroxyapatite (HAp) coating layer on mechanical and optical properties at bonding interface of high-performance polymers (HPPs) used in computer-aided design (CAD)/computer-aided manufacture (CAM) technology was investigated in this in vitro study.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Two hundred-twenty specimens were divided into two material groups (n = 110): polyetheretherketone (PEEK, KERA® starPEEK) and polyetherketoneketone (PEKK, Pekkton® ivory). For mechanical testing, each group was divided into five surface pretreatment subgroups and a control group (n = 10): HAp coating (1%,3%, 5%, and 10% concentrations) and sandblasting with 110-μm Al2O3 particles. For optical testing, each group was divided into five subgroups (n = 10): HAp coating (1%, 3%, 5%, and 10% concentrations) and control. The effects of the HAp coating on the optical changes and shear bond strength (SBS) of the specimens were investigated. Data was statistically analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post-hoc test. Failure modes and surface properties of the specimens were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and coupled electron dispersive spectroscopy (EDS).

RESULTS

Average translucency and color change values increased with increasing HAp coating concentration in HPPs. As a result of the data, statistically significant differences were observed in terms of the effect of the HAp coating on SBS of HPPs (p < 0.05). Failure modes were examined, and mixed failure mode was observed.

CONCLUSION

HAp coating can contribute to the improvement of both the optical properties and bond strength of the HPPs to resin composite.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Adhesion and color problems of high performance polymers are still under discussion. In order to solve these problems, generally focused on surface modifications of these polymers, but the effect of the HAp coating has not been investigated.