Effect of nano-titanium oxide addition on some mechanical properties of silicone elastomers for maxillofacial prostheses

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effects of adding titanium oxide (TiO(2)) nanofillers on the tear strength, tensile strength, elongation percentage, and hardness of room-temperature-vulcanized (RTV) VST50F and high-temperature-vulcanized (HTV) Cosmesil M511 maxillofacial silicone elastomers. METHODS: Two types of maxillofacial elastomers, VST50F RTV and Cosmesil M511 HTV, were used. Nano-TiO(2) powder was applied as a nanofiller. A total of 120 specimens were fabricated, 60 each of VST50F and Cosmesil M511. The specimens of each type of elastomer were divided into three equal groups on which tests were conducted for tear strength, tensile strength, and hardness i.e., 20 specimens were used for each test. Each group of 20 specimens was further divided into two equal subgroups: (A) control i.e., silicone without nano-TiO(2), and (B) experimental i.e., VST50F and Cosmesil M511 silicone incorporated with 0.25 wt% and 0.2 wt% nano-TiO(2), respectively. Each subgroup thus had 10 specimens. The specimens were evaluated, and data were studied using descriptive statistical analysis and two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). RESULTS: The addition of 0.25 wt% and 0.2 wt% TiO(2) nanofiller into VST50F and Cosmesil M511 elastomers, respectively, resulted in a statistically significant increase in the mean values (p < 0.01) of tear strength, tensile strength, elongation percentage, and hardness of the materials. CONCLUSION: The mechanical properties of the VST50F and Cosmesil M511 maxillofacial silicone materials improved with the addition of select concentrations of nano-TiO(2).