Effects of incorporation of 2.5 and 5 wt% TiO2 nanotubes on fracture toughness, flexural strength, and microhardness of denture base poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA)

PURPOSE. The aim of this preliminary study was to investigate, for the first time, the effects of addition of titania nanotubes ($n-TiO_2$) to poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA) on mechanical properties of PMMA denture base. MATERIALS AND METHODS. $TiO_2$ nanotubes were prepared using alkaline hydrothermal process. Obtained nanotubes were assessed using FESEM-EDX, XRD, and FT-IR. For 3 experiments of this study (fracture toughness, three-point bending flexural strength, and Vickers microhardness), 135 specimens were prepared according to ISO 20795-1:2013 (n of each experiment=45). For each experiment, PMMA was mixed with 0% (control), 2.5 wt%, and 5 wt% nanotubes. From each $TiO_2$:PMMA ratio, 15 specimens were fabricated for each experiment. Effects of $n-TiO_2$ addition on 3 mechanical properties were assessed using Pearson, ANOVA, and Tukey tests. RESULTS. SEM images of $n-TiO_2$ exhibited the presence of elongated tubular structures. The XRD pattern of synthesized $n-TiO_2$ represented the anatase crystal phase of $TiO_2$. Moderate to very strong significant positive correlations were observed between the concentration of $n-TiO_2$ and each of the 3 physicomechanical properties of PMMA (Pearson's P value ${\leq}.001$, correlation coefficient ranging between 0.5 and 0.9). Flexural strength and hardness values of specimens modified with both 2.5 and 5 wt% $n-TiO_2$ were significantly higher than those of control ($P{\leq}.001$). Fracture toughness of samples reinforced with 5 wt% $n-TiO_2$ (but not those of 2.5% $n-TiO_2$) was higher than control (P=.002). CONCLUSION. Titania nanotubes were successfully introduced for the first time as a means of enhancing the hardness, flexural strength, and fracture toughness of denture base PMMA.