Tensile strength and impact strength of color modifed acrylic resin reinforced with titanium dioxide nanoparticles

Background: Poor mechanical properties are among the main limitations of acrylic resins. Addition of titanium
dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles to acrylic resin has been shown to improve its mechanical properties with an adverse
effect on its color. Thus, this study sought to assess the tensile and impact strength of a color modifed heat cure
acrylic resin reinforced with TiO2 nanoparticles.
Material and Methods: In this in vitro experimental study, 1wt% TiO2 nanoparticles were added to SR Triplex Hot
heat-cure acrylic resin powder and mixed. Pigments and color fbers were also added and 18 samples were fabricated of this paste for tensile and impact strength testing (n=9) according to ISO5271. Eighteen control samples were
also fabricated from the acrylic powder without any modifcation. Independent t-test was used for data analysis
(P< 0.05).
Results: The mean tensile strength of the reinforced group was found to be signifcantly higher (difference of 11
MPa) than that of the control group (P=0.001). The mean impact strength of the reinforced group was 7 MPa higher
than that of the control group and this difference was statistically signifcant as well (P=0.001).
Conclusions: The color modifed acrylic resin reinforced with 1wt% TiO2 showed signifcantly higher tensile and
impact strength compared to the conventional acrylic resin. Thus, TiO2 nanoparticles may be incorporated into
color-modifed acrylic resin powder to enhance its tensile and impact strength, given that they have no adverse
effect on other properties