The effect of peanut and walnut shells powders on tensile and microstructure of the PMMA for prosthetic denture

Abstract EN

In the current research, the heat-cured matrix material powder of PMMA was reinforced with Peanut and Walnut Shells (natural powders) which are chemically treated with 5% (w/v) (NaOH) to improve the matrix bonding (PMMA) before being used as a reinforcing powder and adding to exactly similar averages particle sizes ≤ (53µm), with different weight fractions of (4, 8, and 12 wt.%).

The results indicated that the Elastic modulus values reached their maximum value at (8 wt.%.) when reinforced with Peanut Shells powders (1.053Gpa), while, the values of tensile strength, elongation percentage at the break, decrease as the weight fraction of Peanut and Walnut Shells powders increase and the lowest values are obtained by reinforcing with Peanut Shells powders to reach their minimum values at (12 wt.%) where the lowest values of them are (29 MPa, 2.758%) respectively.

The fracture surface morphology of pure PMMA seemed to be homogenous morphology in (SEM) test, whereas the fracture surface morphology of PMMA composite reinforced by (Peanut and Walnut Shells) powders and shows a smoothness fracture surface morphology this refers to brittle to semi ductile or ductile transformation.