Acrylic resin-fiber composite--Part II: The effect of polymerization shrinkage of polymethyl methacrylate applied to fiber roving on transverse strength.

This study determined the effect of polymerization shrinkage of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) coating of fiber roving on the transverse strength of an acrylic resin-glass fiber composite. The test specimens were heat-cured acrylic resin reinforced with glass fibers. The glass fiber rovings were treated with four PMMA-MMA mixtures (30 specimens per group) of various ratios assumed to have different amounts of polymerization shrinkage. A transverse strength test was used to determine the fracture resistance of the test specimens and the polymerization shrinkage of the PMMA-MMA mixtures was measured. After the specimens were fractured, single glass fibers used to reinforce the test specimens were studied by SEM. The fracture resistance of the specimens was statistically different (p < 0.001) among treatments, and the polymerization shrinkage of the PMMA-MMA mixture also varied as the calculations predicted. The SEM micrographs showed differences in thickness of the acrylic resin layer on the surface of the fibers with PMMA-MMA mixtures of various ratios. According to the results, the ratio that caused only minor polymerization shrinkage of PMMA in the glass fiber roving improved the fracture resistance of the test specimens and seemed to increase the amount of PMMA inside the fiber roving.