Mechanical Properties of Alkasite Material with Different Curing Modes and Simulated Aging Conditions

• Published in: Materials Vol. 17; no. 11; p. 2777
• Main Authors: Negovetic Mandic, Visnja, Plancak, Laura, Marovic, Danijela, Tarle, Zrinka, Trutina Gavran, Milena, Par, Matej
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01.06.2024; MDPI
• Subjects: Accelerated aging tests; Accelerated tests; Aging; alkasite; Analysis; Composite materials; crosslink density; Curing; Delay; Dental enamel; dental materials; Ethanol; flexural properties; Flexural strength; Lactic acid; Light; Mechanical properties; Medical research; Medicine, Experimental; Microhardness; Modulus of rupture in bending; resin composite; Saline solutions; Silicon carbide; Germany; Liechtenstein; crosslink density; flexural properties; alkasite; dental materials; resin composite
• ISSN: 1996-1944; 1996-1944
• DOI: 10.3390/ma17112777

This study aimed to evaluate the micro-mechanical and macro-mechanical properties of self-cured and light-cured alkasite and to investigate how accelerated degradation in acidic, alkaline, and ethanol solutions affects the macro-mechanical properties of self-cured and light-cured alkasite. The specimens of the alkasite material (Cention Forte, Ivoclar Vivadent) were prepared according to the following three curing modes: (1) light-cured immediately, (2) light-cured after a 5-min delay, and (3) self-cured. Microhardness was tested before and after immersion in absolute ethanol to indirectly determine crosslink density, while flexural strength and flexural modulus were measured using a three-point bending test after accelerated aging in the following solutions: (1) lactic acid solution (pH = 4.0), (2) NaOH solution (pH = 13.0), (3) phosphate-buffered saline solution (pH = 7.4), and (4) 75% ethanol solution. The data were statistically analyzed using a two-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc test. The results showed that the microhardness, flexural strength, and flexural modulus were significantly lower in self-cured specimens compared to light-cured specimens. A 5-min delay between the extrusion of the material from the capsule and light curing had no significant effect on any of the measured properties. A significant effect of the accelerated aging solutions on macro-mechanical properties was observed, with ethanol and alkaline solutions having a particularly detrimental effect. In conclusion, light curing was preferable to self-curing, as it resulted in significantly better micro- and macro-mechanical properties, while a 5-min delay between mixing the capsule and light curing had no negative effects.