Thermocycling — the effects upon the compressive strength and abrasion resistance of three composite resins

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effects of thermocycling upon the compressive strength and abrasive wear resistance of three commercial composites Fulfil, P-50 and Herculite-XR. Specimens of each material were divided into five treatment groups comprising a control, and four different cycling and storage regimes. Tests for compressive strength and wear resistance were carried out. Prior to testing all specimens were stored in distilled water for 1 week. Three groups were stored at a temperature of 37 degrees C and the remaining two at 60 degrees C. Thereafter all groups that were thermocycled were subjected to 750 cycles of a thermocycling regime consisting of the cycle ACAB where A and B represent the fixed temperatures of 37 degrees C and 5 degrees C, and C, depending upon the treatment group, either 50 degrees C or 60 degrees C. One-way analyses of variance upon the compressive strength and wear factor data following the treatments highlighted significant differences in the mean compressive strength for all materials (Fulfil (P < 0.05), P-50 and Herculite-XR (P < 0.01)) and in the wear factor values for only Fulfil and P-50 (P < 0.001). Surprisingly, thermocycling P-50 with an upper temperature limit of 50 degrees C had catastrophic consequences upon the measured properties. It is concluded that some of the observed behaviour may have potentially detrimental consequences upon the long-term clinical durability of the materials tested.