The effects of glass fiber reinforcement at different concentrations on the transverse strength, deflection and modulus of elasticity of a provisional fixed partial denture resin.

This study focused on some mechanical properties such as the transverse strength, maximal deflection and modulus of elasticity of a resin reinforced with untreated, chopped form glass fibers at different concentrations. A Teflon mould was used to prepare four groups of specimens. The specimens were prepared with different concentrations of the glass fiber to the mass of the powder/liquid mix (0.5, 1, 1.5%), and a mix without fiber was used as the control group. All the specimens were subjected to transverse testing with a cross-head speed of 5 mm/min. The load to fracture for each specimen with the maximum deflection at the point of loading in a three-point load test was recorded. The transverse strength of 0.5% fiber concentration was 54.45 MPa. The lowest value was 49.67 MPa for the 1% fiber concentration. The highest mean strength was for the specimens reinforced with 0.5% glass fiber. This mean was higher than for the mean of the control "without fiber" specimens. The specimens demonstrated an insignificant decrease in the transverse strength and the maximum deflection when the fiber concentration was increased. The inclusion of 1% glass fiber reduced the transverse strength, although the result was not statistically significant.