In the present study, the influence of the SiO2 content of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) on the bonding between PEEK and resin cement, and the corresponding mechanical properties, were evaluated. Three experimental PEEK samples with varying amounts of SiO2, and PEEK containing 20 wt% of TiO2 (DK), were investigated. The tensile bond strength (TBS) was evaluated before and after 10,000 thermal cycles, upon polishing, sandblasting, and conditioning of the specimens with BONDMER lightless containing a silane coupling agent, and bonded with ESTECEM II. The crystallinity, flexural modulus, and flexural strength were determined after 10,000 thermal cycles. TBS values were analyzed by two-way ANOVA and a t-test with Bonferroni correction (α<0.05), while the crystallinity, flexural modulus, and flexural strength were analyzed with one-way ANOVA followed by a t-test with Bonferroni correction (α<0.05). The TBS improved with increasing SiO2 content in PEEK; moreover, DK and the sample with 40 wt% SiO2 exhibited the highest flexural strength.
Keywords: Mechanical properties; PEEK; Polyetheretherketone; SiO2; Tensile bond strength.