Fatigue susceptibility of an endodontic fibre post material

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate effects of ageing and fatigue on the elastic modulus and short-beam shear strength of a quartz fibre/epoxy resin post material.

Methodology: Cylindrical specimens (25 × 2.2 mm) were made. Elastic moduli were dynamically measured before immersion in water; after immersion in water; periodically during storage in water for up to 7 years; periodically during thermal cycling in water for up to 10 000 cycles to produce thermo-mechanical fatigue; and periodically during boiling in water for up to 100 h. After ageing, the specimens underwent short-beam shear strength testing.

Results: Elastic modulus was significantly decreased by thermal cycling and by immersion in boiling water, but not by water storage. Short-beam shear strength was profoundly decreased by all three ageing processes. Short-beam shear strength was much more sensitive than elastic modulus to the ageing or fatigue processes applied in this study.

Conclusions: A representative endodontic fibre post material was susceptible to a variety of ageing and fatigue processes. The effects of ageing and fatigue had a more pronounced impact on short-beam shear strength than on elastic modulus. The effects of boiling in water and thermal cycling in water were considerably larger than those of simple storage in water.

Keywords: ageing; elastic modulus; endodontics; fatigue strength; fibre post; shear.