Objective(s): This study aims to evaluate the hardness of two commercially available cold cured acrylic resin material
(Vertex and PAN) when polymerized at different temperature in comparison to those polymerized by conventional
methods in air at 23C ± 5C.
Methodology: Eighty specimens, forty from cold cured acrylic (Vertex Type) and forty from cold cured acrylic (PAN
type) were prepared, flasking and packing procedure were done according to manufacturer direction and divided
according to processing as follow: 20 specimens (10 from Vertex type and 10 from PAN type) were processed in air for
two hours at 23C ± 5C under press (bench curing) as a control, and 60 specimens (30 from Vertex type and 30 from
PAN type) were processed by ivomat curing device containing water under air pressure 30 Pascal for 15 minutes at
different temperature: 40C, 60C, and 80C (10 specimens for each groups). All specimens were tested for hardness test
by shore D device.
Results: Result showed that cold cured acrylic type PAN (polymerized by elevated temperature 80˚C) show the
maximum value of hardness (88.696) followed by cold cured acrylic type vertex polymerized at 60˚C (88.471). While,
control group type PAN (polymerized at air bench) recorded the minimum value of hardness (81.83). All groups that
polymerized at high temperature: 40C, 60C, and 80C show the higher value of hardness in comparison to those
processed by conventional methods (at air bench) with significant and highly significant differences.
Recommendations: Studies need to study the effect of increasing time and pressure of curing process on the hardness
of cold cure acrylic material, also to study the effect of increasing temperature of curing on the other properties of
cold cure acrylic material.