Using organic montormollontrite to reinforce the structure and flexural property of denture base nanocomposites

Abstract The denture bases nanocomposites were prepared by adding organic montormollontrite(OMMT) into poly(methyl methacrylate) matrix. The resulting composites were characterized by XRD, TEM, and ISTRON 3365 flexural strength testing systems. One‐way analysis of variance and Tukey's test were used to compare the difference in flexural strength and flexural modulus. The results showed the formation of exfoliated‐intercalated and intercalated denture base nanocmposite when the content of OMMT was 3 wt % and 5 wt % in the powder of denture base resin, respectively. The maximum ultimate flexural strength was observed in denture base nanocomposite containing 3 wt % of OMMT and flexural strength decreased with further increases of OMMT content. The flexural modulus of denture base nanocomposite increased continually with OMMT content increasing from 1 wt % to 10 wt %. Significant difference in both flexural strength and flexural modulus was observed between the nanocomposites with 3 wt % OMMT and controls ( n = 5, P < 0.05). © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009