Mechanical Comparison of Graphene with Polyetheretherketone and Titanium for Dental Implant Applications

Objectives: The long-term success of implant-supported prostheses and load-bearing implant systems depends on the mechanical properties of advanced structured biomaterials. Graphene has long been used in graphene-based composites; however, the mechanical characteristics of graphene as a standalone structured material are not well understood. Since comparative mechanical characterization across nano-structured, polymeric, and metallic biomaterials is necessary for interdisciplinary materials development, this study compares the flexural strength and surface hardness of graphene with Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and titanium, which are widely used implant biomaterials. Materials and Methods: A total of 30 specimens (n=10 for graphene, PEEK, and titanium) were milled using CAD/CAM technology according to ISO 178 for flexural strength and ISO 6507-1 for Vickers hardness. Flexural strength was measured with a three-point bending test at a cross-head speed of 1 mm/min to assess the flexural strength of the samples. Surface hardness was tested on the same samples by using a microhardness tester. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by the Tukey post hoc test. Effect sizes were calculated using eta squared (ƞ2). p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: The mechanical performance parameters, mean flexural strength (F (2,27) = 4433.2, p