Influence of a repeated preheating procedure on mechanical properties of three resin composites

The aim of this study was to assess the flexural strength, flexural elastic modulus and Vickers microhardness of three resin composites prepared at room temperature or cured after one or repeated preheating cycles to a temperature of 398C. Three resin composites were evaluated: Enamel Plus HFO (Micerium), Opallis (FGM), and Ceram X Duo (Dentsply DeTrey). For each trial, one group of specimens of each material was fabricated under ambient laboratory conditions, whereas in the other groups, the composites were cured after 1, 10, 20, 30, or 40 preheating cycles to a temperature of 398C in a preheating device. Ten rectangular prismatic specimens (25 3 2 3 2 mm) were prepared for each group (N=180; n=10) and subjected to a three-point bending test forflexural strength and flexural modulus evaluation. Vickers microhardness was assessed on 10 cylindrical specimens from each group (N=180; n=10). Statistical analysis showed that, regardless of the material, the number of heating cycles was not a significant factor and was unable to influence the three mechanical properties tested. However, a significant main effect of the employed material on the marginal means of the three dependent variables was detected.