Effectiveness of adding basalt fibers in flexural strength of denture base acrylic resin

Introduction
Fracture of denture made of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is considered a common clinical problem. Thus, several materials were used for improving the mechanical properties of PMMA. To the best of our knowledge, there is no information about the effect of adding basalt fibers in improving the mechanical properties of PMMA. This study evaluated the flexural strength of heat-polymerized acrylic resin denture reinforced with untreated chopped basalt fibers, chopped basalt fibers treated with monomer, silane, or phosphoric acid.

Material and methods
Sample size was equally divided into five groups: (1) Group C (PMMA un-reinforced with basalt fibers); (2) Group UBF (PMMA reinforced with untreated basalt fibers); (3) Group MBF (PMMA reinforced with basalt fibers treated with monomer); (4) Group SBF (PMMA reinforced with basalt fibers treated with silane); and (5) Group PhABF (PMMA reinforced with basalt fibers treated by phosphoric acid 35%). A 3-point bending test was carried out with a universal testing machine. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA test.

Results
Flexural strength of MBF and SBF groups was higher than C group, with a significant difference. However, the flexural strength of MBF was higher than UBF, SBF, and PhABF, with a significant difference. SBF group was significantly different from PhABF group.

Conclusions
PMMA reinforcement with basalt fibers treated with monomer improved the flexural properties.