title: The effect on the flexural strength, flexural modulus and compressive strength of fibre reinforced acrylic with that of plain unfilled acrylic resin - an in vitro study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this in vitro study was to compare the flexural strength, the flexural modulus and compressive strength of the acrylic polymer reinforced with glass, carbon, polyethylene and Kevlar fibres with that of plain unfilled resin.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 50 specimens were prepared and divided into 10 specimens each under 5 groups namely group 1- control group without any fibres, group 2 - carbon fibres, group 3- glass fibres, group 4 - polyethylene, group 5- Kevlar. Universal testing machine (Tinius olsen, USA) was used for the testing of these specimens. Out of each group, 5 specimens were randomly selected and testing was done for flexural strength using a three point deflection test and three point bending test for compressive strength and the modulus was plotted using a graphical method. Statistical analysis was done using statistical software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The respective mean values for samples in regard to their flexural strength for PMMA plain, PMMA+ glass fibre, PMMA+ carbon, PMMA+ polyethylene and PMMA+ Kevlar were 90.64, 100.79, 102.58, 94.13 and 96.43 respectively. Scheffes post hoc test clearly indicated that only mean flexural strength values of PMMA + Carbon, has the highest mean value. One-way ANOVA revealed a non-significant difference among the groups in regard to their compressive strength.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study concludes that carbon fibre reinforced samples has the greatest flexural strength and greatest flexural modulus, however the compressive strength remains unchanged.
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, Amrita University, Amrita School of Dentistry , Amrita University, India .
authors.forename: Tony C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, Amrita University, Amrita School of Dentistry , Amrita University, India .
authors.forename: Aswini Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: K
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Amrita University, Amrita School of Dentistry , Amrita University, India .
authors.forename: Shamaz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, Amrita University, Amrita School of Dentistry , Amrita University, India .
authors.forename: Vinod
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Krishnan
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, Amrita University, Amrita School of Dentistry , Amrita University, India .
authors.forename: Anil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mathew
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, Amrita University, Amrita School of Dentistry , Amrita University, India .
authors.forename: Manju
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: V
keywords: Glass; Kevlar fibres; Poly methyl methacrylate; Polyethylene