Abstract
AIM AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to comparatively analyse the compressive and tensile strength of different types of record base materials made of different materials and processing techniques. MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY: The compressive and tensile strength of 4 types of injection moulded materials were compared with a control of conventional compression moulded material. Twenty test specimens (10 tensile and 10 compressive) were fabricated from each material. A test was done using the Instron 3382 (Norwood, MA, USA) universal testing machine. RESULTS: Compressive and tensile test values showed significant differences between the record base resin groups tested for both compressive and tensile strength tests (p=0.00). The mean tensile strength value was greatest for Group V (66.0 MPa) and lowest for Group III (41.9MPa) and the mean compressive strength value was greatest for Group I (74.5 MPa) followed by Group V (70.2 MPa) and lowest for Group III (10.8 MPa). CONCLUSION: Injection moulded acetal resin showed the highest tensile strength value; it was comparable to that of conventional compression moulded polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). Compression moulding is reported to have the highest compressive strength values followed by injection moulded acetal resin material. Injection moulded acetal resin material attributed to its advantages and superior strength value, can be used as a material of choice in various clinical scenarios.