Tensile fatigue of 4-META cement bonding three base metal alloys to enamel and comparison to other resin cements.

The tensile median fatigue limits and fracture mode of 4-META cement were evaluated after bonding Ni-Cr, Ni-Cr-Be, and Co-Cr alloys to enamel. Alloy surfaces, 6 mm in diameter, were grit blasted with 50 microns Al2O3 and cemented to etched bovine enamel under a 2 kg load. Samples were cycled in tension to failure or 10(6) cycles at 5 Hz in Ringer's solution at 37 degrees C. Two-point strategy was used to determine median fatigue limits (S50). Fracture modes were evaluated by SEM on samples failing before 10(6) cycles. Results indicated differences between all sample groups where S50 (Ni-Cr-Be) > S50 (Co-Cr) > S50 (Ni-Cr). Failure analysis revealed mixed cohesive fractures near both interfaces with small areas of delamination within the cement. Comparison to reported median fatigue limits of two commercially available cements were discussed.