Hybrid denture acrylic composites with nanozirconia and electrospun polystyrene fibers

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 14; no. 12; p. e0226528
• Main Authors: Elmadani, A A, Radović, I, Tomić, N Z, Petrović, M, Stojanović, D B, Heinemann, R Jančić, Radojević, V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 18-12-2019; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Acrylates - chemistry; Composite materials; Composite Resins - chemistry; Deagglomeration; Dental materials; Dental Materials - chemistry; Dentistry; Dentures; Electron microscopy; Electrospinning; Engineering and Technology; Fibers; Fourier transforms; Hardness; Hardness (Materials); Hybrid composites; Impact strength; Impact tests; Infrared spectroscopy; Materials Testing; Mechanical properties; Metallurgy; Methacrylates; Microhardness; Microscopy; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Nanocomposites; Nanoparticles; Particulate composites; Physical Sciences; Polymer industry; Polymer matrix composites; Polymerization; Polymers; Polymethyl methacrylate; Polymethylmethacrylate; Polystyrene; Polystyrene fibers; Polystyrene resins; Polystyrenes; Prostheses; Research and Analysis Methods; Scanning electron microscopy; Silanes; Spectroscopy; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Spectrum analysis; Thermodynamic properties; Zirconia; Zirconium; Zirconium dioxide; Zirconium oxide; Serbia
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0226528

The processing and characterization of hybrid PMMA resin composites with nano-zirconia (ZrO2) and electrospun polystyrene (PS) polymer fibers were presented in this study. Reinforcement was selected with the intention to tune the physical and mechanical properties of the hybrid composite. Surface modification of inorganic particles was performed in order to improve the adhesion of reinforcement to the matrix. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) provided successful modification of zirconia nanoparticles with 3-Methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MEMO) and bonding improvement between incompatible inorganic nanoparticles and PMMA matrix. Considerable deagglomeration of nanoparticles in the matrix occurred after the modification has been revealed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Microhardness increased with the concentration of modified nanoparticles, while the fibers were the modifier that lowers hardness and promotes toughness of hybrid composites. Impact test displayed increased absorbed energy after the PS electrospun fibers had been embedded. The optimized composition of the hybrid was determined and a good balance of thermal and mechanical properties was achieved.