Surface Hardness Evaluation of a Thermoplastic Nylon Denture Base Material

Abstract

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate surface hardness of a thermoplastic nylon denture base material and comparing it with conventional heat cured acrylic resin. Material and methods: Two different types of commercially available denture base materials were used in this study. Group I: Heat cured acrylic resin denture base material. Group II: Thermoplastic nylon denture base material. Specimens of (65mm X 10mm X 2.5mm) length, width and thickness, were tested using Digital Display Vicker`s microhardness tester. Results: It was found that acrylic resin group recorded statistically non-significant higher Vickers hardness mean value (33.591±1.850 HV) than Thermoplastic nylon group (31.331±2.5 HV) as indicated by unpaired t-test (P=0.0818> 0.05). Conclusion : Thermoplastic material is less than the conventional one, in terms of surface hardness..