THE EFFECT OF PLASMA-TREATED POLYETHYLENE FIBER ON THE FLEXURAL STRENGTH OF COMPOSITE RESIN IN VARIOUS APPLIED PORTIONS

플라스마 처리된 폴리에틸렌 섬유의 적용 부위가 복합 레진의 굴곡 강도에 미치는 영향

There has been many researches aimed at reinforcing the strength of resin, and these have led to the development and use of numerous materials in recent years. A case in point, is the recent development of plasma-treated polyethylene fiber which has been used mainly in fixed provisional restoration to reduce the incidence of fractures. This study aims at assessing whether plasma-treated polyethylene fiber as applied to composite resin is effective in increasing the flexural strength and how applied portions affect this. Twenty-four applied and eight unapplied composite resin bars were fabricated. Twenty-four applied specimens were divided into three groups. Plasma treated polyethylene fiber was applied to the groups each with different portions of composite resin. In the first group, plasma-treated polyethylene fiber was not applied. In the second group, fiber was applied to the compression side of composite resin. Fiber was applied to the tension side in the third group, while fiber was embedded in the tension side of the composite resin in the fourth group. Each specimen was tested by use of a three-point bending strength test with an instron testing machine, and the flexural strength was calculated. The following results were obtained. : 1. Under the conditions of this study, the third and fourth groups demonstrated a statistically greater flexural strength compared to the first and second groups. 2. But there was no statistically significant difference, not only between the first group and the second group, but also between the third group and the fourth group. Taken together, it can be concluded that plasma-treated polyethylene fiber applied to composite resin is an effective method in increasing flexural strength, and the best way of increasing the flexural strength is by application of plasma-treated polyethylene fiber to the tension side, or the embedding of same in composite resin. It must be mentioned however that this test used a static single-load test method. This method determined the maximum stresses that could be tolerated, but this might not be valid where the prediction of clinical failure is concerned. In order therefore to clinically utilize plasma-treated polyethylene fiber to reinforce the composite resin, it is suggested that a further study which considers the various loads be undertaken.