Gold nanoparticles-PMMA composite for denture base: Synthesis, mechanical and thermal characteristics

Abstract

Acrylic resin and rubber-reinforced acrylic polymers represent approximately 95% of the denture base materials used in prosthodontics today. The synthesis of highly dispersed gold nano-particle (AuNP) in polymethyl methacrylate (MMA) as monomer phase transferring agent followed by the formation of polymer composite is described. The resulting nanocomposites undergo various pertaining physicochemical analysis, especially the thermal diffusivity measurements and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), to evaluate their basic functional properties. Cylindrical test specimens containing an embedded Pt-wire were used to determine heat conductivity and thermal diffusivity of the investigated samples over a physiologic temperature range (0 to70 oC) based on the in-stationary heat-wire method. The DMA has been conducted on the basis of the Young’s Modulus’ approximation to investigate the viscoelasticity of rectangular samples of these materials using the three point bending test as well as the compression plats. The results indicated that the modified PMMA resin with gold nanoparticles fillers have potential as added components in denture bases to provide increased thermal diffusivity and well enhanced viscoelastic responses, which could lead to more patient satisfaction