Characterization of denture acrylic resin surfaces modified by glow discharges

Resin samples prepared by compression molding using a poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) denture base material were exposed to radio-frequency (rf) glow discharges to improve the wettability of the material. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) reflectance, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and contact-angle measurements have been employed to characterize the changes introduced by the glow discharge plasma. FT-IR measurements cannot detect any modification. XPS reveals an increase in the O/C atomic ratio. Contact angles of the plasma-treated samples are always lower when compared with untreated ones. The increased O atomic concentration is attributed to formation of -COH groups on the surface during plasma treatment. The O/C atomic ratio decreases upon heating the samples in vacuum to 100 °C for 1-2 min and exposing the samples to liquid CH2Cl2 for 1-2 min. Exposure to distilled water for prolonged periods causes a slight decrease during the initial 1-20 days but levels off to a constant value up to a period of 60 days. Plasma treatment seems to offer a durable increase in the wettability for these materials left in air or distilled water

Time-related wettability characteristic of acrylic resin surfaces treated by glow discharge

Statement of problem. Adhesion and cohesion have important roles in denture retention, and attempts have been made to improve the wettability of the acrylic resin material by surface treatments