Empirical study of alginate impression materials by customized proportioning system.
OBJECTIVE
Alginate mixers available in the market do not have the automatic proportioning unit. In this study, an automatic proportioning unit for the alginate mixer and controller software were designed and produced for a new automatic proportioning unit. With this device, it was ensured that proportioning operation could arrange weight-based alginate impression materials.


METHODS
The variation of coefficient in the tested groups was compared with the manual proportioning. Compression tension and tear tests were conducted to determine the mechanical properties of alginate impression materials. The experimental data were statistically analyzed using one way ANOVA and Tukey test at the 0.05 level of significance.


RESULTS
No statistically significant differences in modulus of elastisity (P>0.3), tensional/compresional strength (P>0.3), resilience (P>0.2), strain in failure (P>0.4), and tear energy (P>0.7) of alginate impression materials were seen. However, a decrease in the standard deviation of tested groups was observed when the customized machine was used. To verify the efficiency of the system, powder and powder/water mixing were weighed and significant decrease was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
It was possible to obtain more mechanically stable alginate impression materials by using the custom-made proportioning unit.
Suleyman Demirel Universitesi Muhendislik Fakultesi - Mechanical Engineering Dept. Isparta, Turkey.
Karani
0000-0002-2608-3065
K
Kurtulus
Suleyman Demirel Universitesi Muhendislik Fakultesi - Mechanical Engineering Dept. Isparta, Turkey.
Kenan
0000-0002-3036-6375
K
Tüfekci
Alginate impression material; Alginate mixer; Mechanical properties of alginate; Preparing methods of alginate