Effect of Wool Fiber Incorporation into RTV Maxillofacial Prosthetic Silicone Elastomers

The estimated lifespan of silicone maxillofacial prostheses under clinical use is 1.5–2 years, necessitating the fabrication of new prostheses after expiration. The most common reason for prosthesis remanufacturing is the deterioration of the mechanical properties of silicone. This study aimed to evaluate the tensile and tear resistance properties of RTV silicone used in maxillofacial prostheses after the addition of wool fibers. A specific methodology was followed in this study, which involved incorporating wool fibers (red and dark blue) as a sintering layer in VST-30 RTV silicone. Eighteen samples were equipped and splatted into two groups based on the tests performed; 40 samples per test were used. Each group was further divided equally into two subgroups: Group A (n=20), which was characterized by the absence of wool fibers (control group), and Group B (n=20), which was characterized by the presence of wool fibers. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to analyze the data and the t-test. Ultimately, a set of results was obtained. The samples containing wool fibers as filler exhibited significantly higher tear and tensile strength than those in the control group. This resulted in improved mechanical properties, specifically a substantial increase in tear and tensile strength, when wool fibers were incorporated into RTV VST-30 silicone.