The effect of variations in fibre length on the impact strength of poly(methyl methacrylate) resin reinforced with ultra-high-modulus polyethylene fibre.
A previous study demonstrated that the impact strength of poly(methyl methacrylate) resin can be improved by including randomly distributed 6-mm lengths of ultra-high-modulus polyethylene (UHMPE) fibre.  In this study the effect of varying the fibre length on impact strength, fibre distribution and manipulative properties of the resin were investigated.  A scanning electron microscopic examination of fibres at the fracture surface was also carried out.  It was found that a 1% by weight loading of 3-mm, 6-mm and 12-mm fibre significantly improved impact strength when compared to control resin, the 3-mm and 6-mm groups performing significantly better than the 12-mm group. The 3-mm and 6-mm fibres afforded the optimum manipulative properties in the mixing and processing of the resin.  Scanning electron microscopy revealed evidence of fibre pull-out.
Department of Restorative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Leeds, UK.
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Gutteridge
D003819:Denture Bases; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D008768:Methylmethacrylates / Q000737:chemistry*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011095:Polyethylenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D012117:Resins, Synthetic / Q000737:chemistry*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical