Unveiling the effect of curing parameters in the mechanical properties of dental polymer

Abstract The microstructural evolution during the polymerization process critically influences the mechanical properties. The present study investigates the influence of curing parameters, i.e., temperature, time, and bench-pressing pressure, on the microstructural evolution and the degree of conversion, which significantly affect the mechanical properties of heat-cured PMMA denture base polymers. Nanoindentation results reveal that the mechanical properties improve considerably with higher curing temperature and longer curing time, as evidenced by an 88% increase in Young’s modulus and a four times increase in hardness. The optical photomicrographs, XRD, and Raman spectroscopy elucidate the effect of systematic variations in curing parameters in the microstructure. The 12-month aging study reveals an increment of 5–10% in the mechanical properties, which is not changing after immersing in artificial saliva (pH 6.8) for 14 days. This comprehensive analysis provides insight into the microstructure-mechanical property correlation, which is important in optimizing PMMA denture base fabrication to enhance clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction.