Influence of Counterface Materials on the Tribological Behavior of Dental Polymethyl Methacrylate Reinforced by Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWCNT)

Abstract

The objective of this research is to study counterface materials effect on the tribological behavior of dental polymethyl methacrylate reinforced by single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) of 0.1 wt. % content. PMMA denture base material is prepared in hot acrylic resins. The counterface materials effect on the tribological behavior of PMMA and SWCNT/PMMA composite was observed using a list of counterface materials that used in the oral cavity are used in both of dry and wet conditions. The lubrication liquid that used in the wet condition was artificial saliva. The counterface materials that used in the study were polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), stainless steel, porcelain, amalgam and buffalo teeth. Friction coefficient and wear are measured by testing the specimens on a reciprocating device at room temperature. It can be noticed that the counterface materials had a distinct effect on the coefficient of friction, wear and \ surface roughness of the PMMA composites. According to the results, it was found that the buffalo tooth and porcelain counterface lead to higher wear resistance, while the amalgam material showed minimal wear resistance under dry and wet conditions. The amalgam material had the highest coefficient of friction value in the dry and wet test, the PMMA material showed the highest value of the coefficient of friction. The surface roughness of stainless steel showed the highest value while the other counter-face materials can have the same value in the dry state while in the wet state the surface roughness of the buffalo teeth showed the minimum value, while other counterface materials may have the same value.