This study was designed to examine the effects of addition of the combination of polymerized polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and zirconia (ZrO 2 ) particles to heat cure PMMA resin on impact strength, surface hardness, and roughness.
The 70% (w/w) of polymerized PMMA powder (particle size: 0.70 µm) was mixed with 30% (w/w) of zirconia powder (ZrO 2 ) (1 µm) to produce PMMA-ZrO 2 filler. Ninety acrylic specimens created were divided into three groups containing 0% wt (Control group), 2% wt, and 4% wt, PMMA-ZrO 2 filler. Ten specimens were used for impact strength, surface hardness and roughness test, blindly. Data were analyzed via one-way ANOVA and the Tukey post hoc test using R 3.6.3.
There was statistically significant difference among study groups regarding surface hardness and roughness (p < 0.001). Yet, nonsignificant difference was found on the subject of impact strength (p = 0.33). Post hoc test showed statistically significant difference for all pairwise comparisons as regards surface hardness and roughness (p < 0.05).
The incorporation of PMMA-ZrO 2 filler did not improve impact strength (resistance during an unexpected blows or dropping). Yet, increased surface roughness and hardness, concentration-dependently.