The mechanical properties of orthodontic resin according

to the polymerization method and wire inserting

technique
1 2 3 4
H ong-Sik Kim , Jung-Sook Kim , Eun-Kyoung Lee , M i-Kyoung Jeong
1
Department of Dental Laboratory Technology, Gimcheon College, Korea
2
Department of Dental Laboratory Technology, Daejeon Health Science College, Korea
3
Department of Dental Hygiene, Choonhae College of Health Sciences, Korea
4
Department of Dental Hygiene, Jinju Health College, Korea
ABSTRACT

Objectives: This study was performed for selecting the proper type of orthodontic resin for removable appliance.

Methods: 170 samples were produced with 3 types of orthodontic resin and inserting the wires with the different
diameters. Compressive strength and flexural strength were measured for every samples and SEM findings
were performed at each sample surface of orthodontic resin.

Results: Orthocryl® resin or Ortho-jet® resin were revealed as the high in compressive strength and flexural
strength under the condition of polymerization in 40 temperature and 4 kg/cm2 pressure. Wire inserting
samples were more strength than those without wire.

Conclusion: Orhocryl® resin, Ortho-jet® resin inserted with proper sized wire, polymerizing at 40 temperature
and 4 kg/cm2 pressure was recommended to produce the removable type of orthodontic appliance in clinical.

Keywords: orthodontic resin, compressive strength, removable orthodontic appliance, polymerization condition of
resin

y Received July 15, 2009, Accepted August 22, 2009

y Corresponding author's e-mail: moa28kr@naver.com (Hong-Sik Kim)

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 International Journal of Clinical Preventive Dentistry. 2009, Volume 5, Number 3
1. Introduction
The preventive orthodontics is keeping occlusion right by
establishing oral care system at the period of exchange
between primary and permanent teeth and it also mean to
prevent malocclusion by removing the causes that affect
changes in normal occlusion. For example, there are
treatment of proximal caries that is able to cause
disharmony of teeth and changes of the maxillary bone in
early stage, Protecting the thumb sucking appliance for
elimination of sucking finger habit to remove a bad habit
hampering normal development of teeth or the maxillary
bone, the tongue guard, for elimination of thrusting tongue
habit, the lip bumper for elimination of biting or sucking
the lower lip and oral screen for elimination breathing habit
through the mouth, space maintainer for maintenance of
position with influences between interlocking teeth to prevent
malocclusion caused by not enough space for eruption of
permanent teeth due the early loss of prim to primary teeth.
At the treatment with the fixed type, it was used for self
curing acrylic resin, up to now. The heat cured resin was
used before but the curing acrylic resin is generally used
now since it polymerized in a short time and it is easy to
make braces and handle. The self curing acrylic resin is
easy to manipulate and it has high volume stability;
however, the side of solidity and color stability is not
satisfactory. Nevertheless, the self curing acrylic resin is
mainly used for temporary braces because the stability of
size is higher than that in the heat cured resin as well as
shortening the polymerization time.
Synthetic resin, a kind of polymer is often called plastic
and this come in handy in almost all daily life; for
example, building materials, electrical supplies and so on. In
addition, it influences contribution to development of
dentistry and it is applied to tissue treatment materials,
cements, various adhesive materials and false teeth making,
custom tray, space maintainer, orthodontics maintainer, Splint
for prevention of grinding teeth, facial prosthetic dentistry
and so on. The properties of matter keep improving(1).
Denture bases made of the acrylic resin, which are
extensively used the most in dentistry are normally produced
as polymethyl methacrylate(PMMA) by using the method of
polymerization between polymers and monomers because of
color stability, volume stability, tissue affinity, superior
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solidity and so on(2). Polymerizing reaction of PMMA is
the product from additional polymerizations of methyl
methacrylate(MMA), which is a monomer. The heat
polymerization is formed by producing free radicals from
double broken bonds on Benzoyl peroxide which is an
initiator, and monomers are linked here and become a
polymer. On the other hand, tertiary Amine belonging to the
monomer works on benzoyl peroxide and release free radical
as chemical reaction of Benzoyl peroxide can take place at
room temperature, and because of this, polymerization take
place(3). Chemical polymerization as self polymerization has
advantages and disadvantages compared with heat
polymerization resin, and it is initiated by tertiary amine. It
shortens the patient time due to the short polymerization
time and the process of creating is simple. However, the
5% residual monomer ratio is higher than 0.5% in heat
polymerization resin(4). It is known that the amount of
residual monomer depends on polymerization method and
that it causes allergic stomatitis or denture stomatitis in
patients' mouth. Moreover, it is related to physical
properties. In other words, if residual monomer are produced
more, the elastic modulus are decreased and mechanical
properties become weak and air bubbles are generated(5-6).
The dentist has proposed the use of pressure vessel as a
way to increase the intensity by reducing the bubbles of the
restoration. Landesman and Spector(7) stated that strength
and density has increased while the pressure curing. In
addition, Donovan et al.(8) mentioned that applying pressure
during the polymerization increases the bending strength, and
the bending strength increased more when Clearfil CR Inlay
was treated by heating of 100 for 15 minutes than one
without the heating process. However, Furnish et al.(9) have
reported that the strength of the sample, which were
polymerized by giving pressure did not show significant
level of increase of bending strength at the experiments with
orthodontics resin.
Acrylic resin, temporary braces, is used when an
orthodontic appliance made. The components of an
orthodontic appliance are base plate, retentive element(Clasp,
Crib) and active element(Spring, Screw, Labial bow). The
thickness of the base plate made by acrylic resin is usually
produced uniformly about the one base plate wax thick(2
mm). Functions of the base plate in orthodontic appliance
are to keep retentive element (Clasp, Crib) and active
element (Screw, Spring, Elastic), and promote anchorage or
 The mechanical properties of orthodontic resin according to the polymerization method and wire inserting technique
retention, too. The base plate extended by the maxillary
plate or lingual surface of maxillary and mandible teeth and
inter proximal area increases retention of the device and
contributes to improvement of fixing by offsetting reactions
caused by the active element between teeth. In addition, the
base plate itself is the special case that active element may
function to exercise. In other words, Maxillary anterior bite
plate prevents the intrusion of mandibular front teeth and
mandibular posterior bite plate prevents the eruption of the
maxillary molars. The base plate takes charge of function of
passing expansion force to teeth or bone due to screw or
spring in maxillary and mandibular expansion devise. These
features are responsible for temporary braces. Patients have
to endure the straightening force and occlusal force for 2-3
years of orthodontic treatment period(10,11). However, by
means of plate bending fatigue fracture caused by continuos
transformation destruct in the mid of dental plate(1).
Similarly the middle part of the straightening device are
often fractured as acrylic resin used to produce upper
straightening device and a patient's oral cavity is equipped
with it during orthodontic treatment. To improve the fracture
resistance of acrylic resin of these temporary orthodontic
devise, wire, steel strengtheners, metal plate were used to
reinforce the strength of plate production as reinforcement
method with metal materials(12-14). Recently a fiber
strengthener(15-21) is introduced and is being used in
clinical. Moreover, reinforcement effect in accordance with
the each reinforcement method is reported through several
experimental studies by many sages(22-23). Among
reinforcement methods of acrylic resin, the way of burying
metal wire in resin is generally used in clinical due to the
economical and easy maneuverability. In fact, these are used
to obtain general resin(24), temporary resin crown(25-27)
production or fracture repair reinforcement effect(28), and
the enhancement effect of the volume stability of resin
polymerization can be expected(29).
According to this research self curing acrylic resin is
imported for the production purpose of temporary
orthodontic device by the three companies in the domestic
market. By analyzing the mechanical properties of bending
strength and compressive strength based on the acquisition
of polymerization, self curing acrylic resin is measured and
compared with the selection of materials of excellent
mechanical properties, bending strength based on several
methods of polymerase and changes of compressive strength
and effect of presence and thickness of wire to the bending
strength of the acrylic resin. Also this author has compared
and studied the relations between the fracture surface shape,
the presence of pores, powder particle size, observation of
shape and grain size, pores and powder particle size and
bending strength and compression strength through
observation of scanning electron microscopy(SEM).
2. Materials and methods
2.1. Materials
Materials used in this study were chemical
polymerization(self polymerization) resin for the temporary
orthodontic devise and the compositions of the product were
methyl methacrylate as the monomer and polymethyl
®
methacrylate as polymer. Orthocryl (Dentarum, Germany),
Ortho-jet®(Lang Inc., USA) and Forestacryl®(Forestadent,
Germany) are imported and wildly used in the country now;
thus, products of these three companies were used in the
experiment. Air pressure heating system(Sejong Dental Inc.,
Korea) was used for polymerization devices.
MultiTest-d(Mecmesin, UK) was used as a properties tester
for flexural strength. MultiTest2.5-X(Mecmesin, UK) was
used as a properties tester for compressive strength.
SEM-1500M(Daedeok image, Korea) were used as a
scanning electron microscope to observe the shape of
fracture surface of resin specimens.
2.2. Methods
2.2.1. Specimen production
A mold with dimensions of 35 × 2.0 × 2.0 mm was
made for specimens production of flexural strength
measurements and a circular mold with 2 mm height of 4
mm diameter was made for specimens production of
compression strength measurements. Then, the self curing
acrylic resin of the three companies was polymerized each
product in pressure pot after injection by spray-on(salt &
pepper)technique into the mold. The each product of three
companies is produced by sorting into polymerized
2
specimens under 2 kg/cm of atmospheric pressure at room
temperature 20 , polymerized specimens under 4 kg/cm2 of
pressure at 40 , specimen for measuring bending strength,
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 International Journal of Clinical Preventive Dentistry. 2009, Volume 5, Number 3
specimen for measuring the compressive strength and
specimen for measuring bending strength based on presence
and thickness of wire.
60 specimens were prepared for bending strength
2
measurements. 10 polymerized specimens under 2 kg/cm of
pressure at 20 and 10 polymerized specimens under 4
2
kg/cm of pressure at 40 were made by a product called
® 2
Orthocryl . 10 polymerized specimens under 2 kg/cm of
pressure at 20 and 10 polymerized specimens under 4
2
kg/cm of pressure at 40 were made by a product called
® 2
Ortho-jet . 10 polymerized specimens under 2 kg/cm of
pressure at 20 and 10 polymerized specimens under 4
2
kg/cm of pressure at 40 were made by a product called
®
Forestacryl .
60 specimens were prepared for compressive strength
2
measurements. 10 polymerized specimens under 2 kg/cm of
pressure at 20 and 10 polymerized specimens under 4
kg/cm2 of pressure at 40 were made by a product called
®
Orthocryl . 10 polymerized specimens under 2kg/cm2 of
pressure at 20 and 10 polymerized specimens under 4
kg/cm2 of pressure at 40 were made by a product called
® 2
Ortho-jet . 10 polymerized specimens under 2 kg/cm of
pressure at 20 and 10 polymerized specimens under 4
kg/cm2 of pressure at 40 were made by a product called
®
Forestacryl .
10 specimens having standard of 35 × 2.5 × 2.5 mm
without wire reinforcement, 10 specimens having standard of
35 × 2.0 × 2.0 mm without wire reinforcement, 10
specimens having standard of 35 × 2.0 × 2.0 mm with
dimensions of 0.5 mm wire reinforcement, 10 specimens
having standard of 35 × 2.0 × 2.0 mm with dimensions of
0.7 mm wire inserting and 10 specimens having standard of
35 × 2.0 × 2.0 mm with dimensions of 0.9 mm wire
reinforcement. 50 specimens were prepared for flexural
strength measurements based on the existence and thickness
of wire. Total 170 specimens had produced and they were
applied for 25 minutes as the polymerization time
2.2.2. Flexural Strength Measurement
The 3-point bending experiments were made with the
universal properties testing machine (MultiTest-d, Mecmesin,
UK) after keeping the specimen in saline solution for two
days. The bending strength was measured with load(Load
cell) 100 kgf and crosshead speed of 1mm per 1-minute in
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the fracture points. The decrease stress levels in the
stress-strain curve were measured when the initial crack on
specimen occurred.
Bending strength was calculated as S in units of MPa by
the following formula .
Flexural strength = 3PL / 2bd2
P = Maximum load(N)
L = Distance between both sides
supporting structure(20mm)
b = Width of specimen(mm)
d = Specimen thickness(mm)
2.2.3. Compressive Strength
The compression strength, which was the load (Load cell)
250 kgf and it was measured by cross head speed of 10mm
per 1 minute using the universal properties testing
machine(MultiTest 2.5-X, Mecmesin, U, K (united kingdom)
after keeping the specimen in saline solution for two days.
2.2.4. SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope)
photography
(1) Specimen preparation
Each product of the three companies was prepared
as 30 polymerized specimens under 2 kg/cm2 of
pressure at room temperature 20 and 30
2
polymerized specimens under 4 kg/cm of pressure
at 40 . The average values of each family
calculated in total 60 resin specimens was done the
3-point bending test by using the universal properties
testing machine(MultiTest-d, Mecmesin, U,K) for
flexural strength measurements. After this, the
fracture surface of fractured 6 resin specimens was
prepared as average values of each family and the
nearest values for SEM.
(2) SEM photographing
The SNE-1500M (Daedeok Image, Korea) as SEM
were used to observe and study fracture surface
geometry, presence of pores, powder particle size
and shape and size of grain by detecting the
secondary electrons.
 The mechanical properties of orthodontic resin according to the polymerization method and wire inserting technique

2.3. Statistical analysis

All measured numerical values were taken as statistics by

using SPSS 14.0k for Windows. The average and standard
deviation were calculated for all measured items and a
comparison between each group was treated by One-way
ANOVA analysis.

Figure 1. Air pressure heating system

(Sejong Dental, Korea) 3. Results
3.1. Flexural Strength
2
Flexural strength were come out under the 2 kg/cm of
pressure at 20 as shown in table 1. The highest bending
®
strength for Ortho-jet of 42.79 MPa, the next for
® ®
Orthocryl of 37.72 MP and the lowest for Forestacryl of
32.88 MPa were polymerized(p<0.05). As a result, these
were showed statistically significant differences. Flexural
strength of polymerized families were come out as
Figure 2. MultiTest-d Orthocryl® under the 4 kg/cm2 of pressure at 40 as
(Mecmesin, UK) shown in table 2. The bending strength of 51.80 MPa of
® ®
Orthocryl and 48.91 MPa of Ortho-jet were showed in the
experiment. As a result, statistically significant differences
were not showed between these two(p>0.05). However,
®
Forestacryl of 32.88 MPa were showed statistically
significant differences(p<0.05).
The highest bending strength, 270.07 MPa was shown in
case of inserting 0.9 mm wire based on bending strength
due to the existence and thickness of wire as shown in
table 5. As wire thickness decreases more, bending strength
Figure 3. MultiTest 2.5-X was reduced. The bending strength of the resin specimens of
(Mecmesin, UK) 35 × 2.5 × 2.5 mm without wire was 83.53 MPa and the
bending strength of the resin specimens of 35 × 2.0 × 2.0
mm with wire was 79.23 MPa. As a result, these two were
showed no significant difference(p>0.05). 131.36 MPa was
shown in case of inserting 0.7 mm wire in the resin
specimens of 35x2.0x2.0mm and the resin specimens of 35
× 2.5 × 2.5 mm without wire was showed higher bending
strength than 83.53 MPa(p<0.05). In addition, the control
resin specimens of 35 × 2.0 × 2.0 mm without wire was
showed much higher bending strength than 51.80
MPa(p<0.05).
Figure 4. SNE-1500M
(Daedeok Image, Korea)

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 International Journal of Clinical Preventive Dentistry. 2009, Volume 5, Number 3

Table 1. Flexural strength comparison of polymerized family under 2 kg/cm2 of pressure at 20

N mean SD
Orthocryl® 10 37.72 b
3.11
® c
Ortho-jet 10 42.79 1.84
® a
Forestacryl 10 32.88 3.30
p-value* <0.001
*: p-value by one-way ANOVA test
abc
: same letter was not significantly different by Scheffe test

Table 2. Bending strength comparison of polymerized family under 4 kg/cm2 of pressure at 40

N mean SD
® b
Orthocryl 10 51.80 3.45
Ortho-jet® 10 48.91 b
2.51
® a
Forestacryl 10 41.50 2.01
p-value* <0.001
*: p-value by one-way ANOVA test
abc
: same letter was not significantly different by Scheffe test

Table 3. Compressive strength comparison of polymerized family under 2 kg/cm2 of pressure at 20

N mean SD
® a
Orthocryl 10 112.36 7.95
Ortho-jet® 10 122.74 b
6.87
® a
Forestacryl 10 105.42 5.40
p-value* <0.001
*: p-value by one-way ANOVA test
abc
: same letter was not significantly different by Scheffe test

Table 4. Compressive strength comparison of polymerized family under 4 kg/cm2 of pressure at 40

N mean SD
Orthocryl® 10 139.50 b
8.30
Ortho-jet® 10 135.04 b
9.84
® a
Forestacryl 10 106.84 8.14
p-value* <0.001
*: p-value by one-way ANOVA test
abc
: same letter was not significantly different by Scheffe test

Table 5. Measurement of the orthodontic wire effect to the bending strength of acrylic resin
N mean SD
a
Control group 10 51.80 3.45
b
Ortho 2.5 10 83.53 9.85
b
Ortho 2.0 + W0.5 10 79.23 10.23
c
Ortho 2.0 + W0.7 10 131.36 7.61
d
Ortho 2.0 + W0.9 10 270.07 9.54
p-value* <0.001
*: p-value by one-way ANOVA test
abcd
: same letter was not significantly different by Scheffe test

3.2. Compression strength not show significant differences(p>0.05) with 105.42 kgf of
®
Forestacryl . Compression strength was found under 4
2 2 ®
Compression strength was found under 2 kg/cm of kg/cm of pressure at 40 as shown in table 4. Orthocryl
®
pressure at 20 as shown in table 3. Ortho-jet was was showed 139.50 kgf and Ortho-jet® was come out
showed the highest compression strength, 122.74 kgf and 135.04 kgf; as a result, these were showed significant
® ®
Orthocryl was come out 112.36 kgf; as a result, these did differences(p<0.05) with 106.84 kgf of Forestacryl .

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 The mechanical properties of orthodontic resin according to the polymerization method and wire inserting technique

3.3. SEM photographs

As a result of observing the shape of the fracture surface

of polymerized resin under 2 kg/cm2 pressure at 20 ,
®
Orthocryl showed relative smooth fracture surface and the
contour of powder particles like figure 10 based on SEM
×100 ×500
image analysis. The type of fracture pattern of the individual
powder particles was shown. Large amount of
Figure 5. SEM images of the fracture surface
bubbles(porosity) but small were observed at the linking part
of Polymerized Orthocryl® under 2 kg/cm2
between particles throughout the whole fracture surface. As of pressure at 20
®
shown in figure 6, the powder particles of ortho-jet could
not be detected the shapes and contours and the fracture
pattern was rough and irregular shape. A relative large
amount of small bubbles was observed throughout the
®
fracture. As shown in figure 7, Forestacryl was showed the
aspects of the fracture separating from each other at the
bridge linking between particles as the shape of powder ×100 ×500
particles in the form of the cosmic dual forces. A large
amount of large and small bubbles were observed at the Figure 6. SEM images of the fracture surface
linking part between particles in the whole area of fracture. of Polymerized Ortho-jet® under 2 kg/cm2
of pressure at 20
The shape of the fracture surface of the polymerized resin
specimens under the 4 kg/cm2 of pressure at 40 was
observed. As shown in figure 8, smooth fracture surface and
contours of powder particles were able to determined for
Orthocryl® and the individual powder particles were showed
aspects of the fracture. Air bubbles in the central part of
the fracture side were not observed but small amount of
×100 ×500
bubbles were observed at the edges. Ortho-jet®, as shown in
figure 9, the shapes and contours of the powder particles Figure 7. SEM images of the fracture surface
were unable to determine and these appeared rough and of Polymerized Forestacryl® under 2 kg/cm2
irregular shape of the fracture pattern. Air bubbles in the of pressure at 20
central part of the fracture side almost were not observed
but small amount of small bubbles were observed at the
edges. Forestacryl® as shown in figure 10, the shape of
powder particles in the form of the cosmic dual forces were
showed the aspects of the fracture separating from each
particle at the link between particles. Large and small air
bubbles were observed at the link between particles ×100 ×500
throughout the whole fracture surface.
Figure 8. SEM images of the fracture surface
of Polymerized Orthocryl® under 4 kg/cm2
of pressure at 40

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 International Journal of Clinical Preventive Dentistry. 2009, Volume 5, Number 3
×100 ×500
Figure 9. SEM images of the fracture surface
of Polymerized Ortho-jet® under 4 kg/cm2
of pressure at 40
×100 ×500
Figure 10. SEM images of the fracture surface
of Polymerized Forestacryl® under 4 kg/cm2
of pressure at 40
4. Discussion
Acrylic resin materials are the most widely used in the
production of orthodontic devises and prosthesis because
those are relatively simple to use and reliable. However, as
s result of the fracture of the stress concentration area due
to low mechanical strength acrylic resin has long been
pointed out as one of the clinical problem. Each the
reinforcing effect was compared according to many different
polymerase methods and the presence and thickness of
reinforcement wire to avoid these fracture problems in this
study.
Donovan et al.(8) stated that there were statistically
significant differences between polymerized specimens in the
atmosphere and polymerized specimens under the 20 psi of
pressure in a pressure vessel. The bubbles were not
observed even to the naked eye for polymerized specimens
under the pressure and those had higher intensity comparing
with polymerized specimens in the atmosphere. Wendt(28)
stated that the compressive strength was reported high due
to increase of the depth of polymerization by heat treatment.
Chee et al.(29) stated that compared the bending strength of
each resin under the pressure and in some mixed vacuum,
the polymerized resin specimens under the pressure of the
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atmosphere and in some mixed vacuum had higher solidity
than that in the atmosphere. These were showed significant
increases. In addition, the use of vacuum mixing was shown
the similar results with polymerization under pressure. The
pressure device was not being used widely but the vacuum
mixer was being used more universally thus they
recommended a vacuum mixer based on experiment results.
Carroll and von Fraunhofer(11) stated that according to the
experiment comparing the reinforcement effects based on a
variety of thickness of the metal wire, the transverse
strength of specimens was increased by increasing the wire
width in self-polymerizing resins. They also reported that
clinically meaningful reinforcement effect could happen when
the thickness of metal wire become over 0.036 inch.
However, they pointed out a difficult issue that the metal
wires over 0.036inch were very hard to bury in a typical
thickness of the plate and there were no differences for the
reinforcement effect whether additional links formed on both
ends of metal wires or not. Jenings and Wuebbenhorst(30)
stated that addition of lingual bar or stainless steel wire in
resin was not clinically important in strength reinforcement.
Stafford and Smith(31) said that the reinforcement effect
could be expected if metal reinforcing agents occupied more
than 50% of cross-sectional area but Berry(32) and others
reported that chrome-cobalt strengtheners had the
reinforcement effect.
In this study, as shown in table 1, of polymerized family
2
measured under 2 kg/cm of the pressure at 20 , Ortho-jet
®
as 42.79 MPa of the highest bending strength was shown
following by the 37.72 MPa for Orthocryl® and 32.88 MPa
®
for Forestacryl in order(p<0.001). These were showed
statistically significant differences. The flexural strength of
polymerized family was set under 4 kg/cm2 of the pressure
®
at 40 . 51.80 MPa for Orthocryl and 48.91 MPa for
®
Ortho-jet were measured as shown in table 2. statistically
significant differences between these two families were not
®
showed(p>0.05) but Forestacryl was showed statistically
significant differences as 41.50 MPa(p<0.05).
The compressive strength of polymerized family was
2
measured under 2 kg/cm of the pressure at 20 . As
®
shown in table 3, Ortho-jet for 122.74 kgf was shown the
highest compressive strength and the next appeared as
®
112.36 kgf of Orthocryl . The statistically significant
®
differences did not appear as Forestacryl was 105.42
kgf(p>0.05). The compressive strength of polymerized family
 The mechanical properties of orthodontic resin according to the polymerization method and wire inserting technique
2
was performed under 4 kg/cm of the pressure at 40 .
®
Orthocryl appeared 139.50 kgf and The statistically
significant differences did not appear as Ortho-jet® showed
the next as 135.04 kgf(p>0.05). Statistically significant
®
differences of Forestacryl rose to 106.84 kgf (p<0.05).
Comparing the bending strength between a polymerized
2
family under 4 kg/cm of the pressure at 20 and a
2
polymerized family under 4 kg/cm of the pressure at 40 ,
the latter family was higher than the other and these were
shown statistically significant differences(p<0.05). The most
significant difference of flexural strength appeared in
Orthocryl® according to polymerizing method. Forestacryl®
was shown the lowest bending strength of both a
2
polymerized family under 4 kg/cm of the pressure at 40
and a polymerized family under 2 kg/cm2 of the pressure at
20 .
The bending strength was measured based on the
existence and thickness of wire as shown in table 5. The
highest bending strength appeared as 270.07 MPa in case of
inserting the 0.9 mm wire. As the thickness of wire
decreased, more bending strength was reduced. The bending
strength of resin specimens of 35 × 2.5 × 2.5 mm without
insertion of wire was 83.53 MPa and this did not show
statistically significant differences(p>0.05) comparing with
79.2 3MPa of the bending strength of resin specimens of 35
× 2.0 × 2.0 mm with insertion of 0.5 mm wire. The resin
specimens of 35 × 2.0 × 2.0 mm was 131.36 MPa with
insertion of 0.7 mm wire and resin specimens of 35 × 2.5
× 2.5 mm was shown higher than 83.53 MPa of the
bending strength without insertion of wire. The resin
specimens as control of 35 × 2.0 × 2.0 mm appeared much
higher than 51.80 MPa of the bending strength without
insertion of wire(p<0.05).
The fracture surface of polymerized resin specimens was
2
observed under 2 kg/cm of the pressure at 20 based on
SEM image analysis results. Orthocryl® was showed
relatively smooth fracture surface and the contours of
powder particles as shown in figure 10. Large amount of
small bubbles(Porosity) were observed at the link between
®
particles throughout fracture surface. Ortho-jet was not
observed the shapes and contours of powder particles as
shown in figure 6 and the fracture pattern was rough and
irregular shape. A relatively large amount of small air
bubbles were observed throughout the fracture. As shown in
figure 7. Forestacryl® was showed the aspects of the fracture
separating from each other at link between particles as the
shape of powder particles in the form of the cosmic dual
forces. A very large amount of large and small bubbles
were observed at the linking part between particles in the
whole area of fracture. The shape of the fracture surface of
the polymerized resin specimens under the 4 kg/cm2 of
pressure at 40 was observed. As shown in figure 8,
smooth fracture surface and contours of powder particles
were observed in Orthocryl® and the individual powder
particles were showed aspects of the fracture. Air bubbles in
the central part of the fracture side were not observed but
small amount of bubbles were observed at the edges.
®
Ortho-jet , as shown in figure 9, the shapes and contours of
the powder particles were unable to be determined and these
appeared rough and irregular shape of the fracture pattern.
Air bubbles in the central part of the fracture side almost
were not observed but small amount of small bubbles were
observed at the edges. Forestacryl® as shown in figure 10,
the shape of powder particles in the form of the cosmic
dual forces were shown the aspects of the fracture
separating from each particle at the link between particles.
Large and small air bubbles were observed at the link
between particles throughout the whole fracture surface.
As a result of the experiment, the bending strength and
compressive strength were increased with high temperature
and pressure of polymerization even though it was the same
product of acrylic resin. The product of the highest bending
strength and compressive strength was polymerized
® 2
Orthocryl under 4 kg/cm of the pressure at 40 . Inserting
of reinforcement wire affected the increase in the bending
strength of maxillary orthodontic devise. As a cross-sectional
area ratio depending on wire cross-sectional area of acrylic
resin increased more, the impact on the bending strength
was expected to increase dramatically. However, wire
reinforcement effect was thought to be reduced in the case
that the cross-sectional area of the resin increased. To
compensate for this, the research about the increasing
number of wire and wire bending strength changes should
still be considered. The mechanical properties such as the
bending strength of acrylic resin for a temporary orthodontic
devise and compressive strength are the one of many factors
to be considered to select the materials for use in clinic.
Therefore, a appropriate resin has to be selected considering
all factors like the patient's actual clinical condition, methods
of production, ease of operation, the period in use, wear
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 International Journal of Clinical Preventive Dentistry. 2009, Volume 5, Number 3
resistance, color stability, bio-friendly and so on. It is
considered that more researches about these many factors
need to be continued.
5. Conclusion
Acrylic resin materials are used the most widely in the
production of prosthesis and orthodontic devises because
those are simple to use and relatively reliable. However, the
fracture of the stress concentration area of acrylic resin due
to low mechanical strength has long been pointed out as
one of the clinical problems. The polymerized methods of
self curing acrylic resin from 3 companies, which are
imported and produced for the domestic market for
temporary orthodontic devise, were analyzed to avoid these
fracture problems in this study based on One, the
measurements of mechanical properties such as the bending
strength and compressive strength, Two, measurements of the
bending strength depending on the existence and the
thickness of enhanced wire and Three, SEM image analysis
of the fracture surface of the resin specimens. As a result,
following conclusions are obtained.
®
1. Ortho-jet was the highest bending strength, 42.79±1.84
2 2
MPa among polymerized families under 2 kg/cm of
pressure at 20 (p<0.05). Orthocryl® as 51.80±3.45 MPa was
appeared higher bending strength than 48.91±2.51 MPa of
® 2
Ortho-jet polymerized families under 4 kg/cm of pressure
at 40 but these were not showed statistically significant
differences(p>0.05).
2. Forestacryl® showed 32.88±3.30 MPa among
2 2
polymerized families under 2 kg/cm of pressure at 20
2
and it was changed to 41.50±2.01 MPa under 4 kg/cm of
®
pressure at 40 . Thus, Forestacryl was represented the
product of 3 companies as the lowest the bending strength
from both two families(p<0.05).
®
3. Ortho-jet was the highest compressive strength,
2
122.74±6.87 kgf among polymerized families under 2 kg/cm
®
of pressure at 20 (p<0.05). Orthocryl as 139.50±8.30 kgf
showed higher compressive strength than 135.04±9.84 kgf of
® 2
Ortho-jet polymerized families under 4 kg/cm of pressure
at 40 but these were not showed statistically significant
differences(p>0.05).
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®
4. Forestacryl showed the lowest compressive strength as
106.84±8.14 kgf among polymerized families under 4 kg/cm2
of pressure at 40 (p<0.05) and it was also showed the
lowest compressive strength as 105.42±5.40 kgf among
polymerized families under 2 kg/cm2 of pressure at 20 .
However, this did not showed statistically significant
®
differences from 112.36±7.95 kgf of Orthocryl (p>0.05).
5. The bending strength with insertion of 0.5 mm wire
which was less than 50% of cross-sectional area of the 35
× 2.0 × 2.0 mm specimen appeared higher than 51.80±3.45
MPa of the resin specimens as control(p<0.05).
6. The bending strength of resin specimens of 35 × 2.0
× 2.0 mm was 131.36±7.61 MPa with insertion of 0.7 mm
wire and this was higher than 83.53±9.85 MPa of the
bending strength of resin specimens of 35 × 2.5 × 2.5mm
without insertion of wire(p<0.05). In addition, there were a
dramatic increase in the bending strength as 270.07±9.54
MPa with insertion of 0.9 mm wire.
7. Based on observing SEM, it was considered that the
higher bending strength and compressive strength were
showed in the polymerized families under 4 kg/cm of
pressure at 40 than the polymerized families under 2
kg/cm2 of pressure at 20 because the occurrence area of
bubbles and the amount of bubbles were small.
From the results of this study, the bending strength and
compressive strength of polymerized specimens under 4
2
kg/cm of the pressure at 40 were higher than
polymerized specimens under 2 kg/cm of the pressure at 2
0 in all three species of acrylic resin in both the bending
strength and the compressive strength, so they were thought
to increase as temperature and pressure increased more. For
the production of temporary orthodontic devise, it is
® ®
recommended that Orthocryl or Ortho-jet is polymerized to
use under 4 kg/cm2 of the pressure at 40 and insertion of
reinforcement wire affects the increase of the bending
strength on flexural Strength of the maxillary orthodontic
devise. A dramatic increase in the bending strength by
insertion of 0.9 mm wire seemed to emerge because the
cross-sectional area of the wire approached close to 50% of
the cross-sectional area of acrylic resin. As the
 The mechanical properties of orthodontic resin according to the polymerization method and wire inserting technique
cross-sectional area ratio for the cross-sectional area of
acrylic resin increased more, it was thought that the effect
on the bending strength increased dramatically.
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