Poly(methyl methacrylate) denture base materials modified with ditetrahydrofurfuryl itaconate: Significant applicative properties

The aim of this work was to examine the possibility of modification of commercial denture base materials with itaconic acid esters, in order to obtain material with less toxicity and higher biocompatibility. Despite their relatively higher price compared to methacrylates, itaconic acid and itaconates are materials of choice for environmentally friendly applications, because they are not produced from petrochemical sources, but from plants. Commercial system based on poly(methyl methacrylate) was modified using ditetrahydrofurfuryl itaconate (DTHFI), wherein the ratio of DTHFI was varied from 2.5 to 10% by weight. Copolymerization was confirmed using FTIR spectroscopy, while SEM analysis showed the absence of micro defects and pores in the structure. The effect of the itaconate content on the absorption of fluids, the residual monomer content, thermal, dynamic-mechanical and mechanical properties (hardness, toughness, stress and elongation at break) was investigated. It was found that the addition of DTHFI significantly reduced the amount of residual methyl methacrylate, what made these materials less toxic. It was shown that the increase in DTHFI content gave materials with decreased glass transition temperature, as well as with decreased storage modulus, ultimate tensile strength and impact fracture resistance, however mechanical properties were in the rang prescribed by ADA standards, and can be used in practice. The deterioration of mechanical properties was therefore worth losing in order to gain lesser toxicity of the leached monomer. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 172062: Synthesis and characterization of novel functional polymers and polymeric nanomaterials]