Comparison of the physical properties of two types of polydimethyl siloxane for fabrication of facial prostheses.

The in vitro physical properties of two types of polydimethyl siloxane, MDX 4-4210 and a new material A-2186, were compared. The properties that were investigated in this study were tensile strength, elongation, tear strength, and surface hardness. The properties tested were selected because of their clinical significance for fabricating a facial prosthesis. According to the results obtained in this investigation, the new material, A-2186, had greater tear resistance, tensile strength, and a larger percentage of elongation. A-2186 material, also proved to be softer at the surface than the MDX 4-4210. This combination of physical properties makes this material, A-2186, a better choice than the traditional MDX 4-4210 for the fabrication of facial prostheses.