Effect of Various Treatment Modalities on Surface Characteristics and Shear Bond Strengths of Polyetheretherketone-Based Core Materials

Abstract

Purpose To investigate the effect of different surface treatments on the surface roughness (Ra), wettability, and shear bond strength of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) to composite resin. Materials and Methods One hundred ninety eight PEEK specimens were divided into six groups (n = 33). Specimen surfaces were treated with the following surface treatment modalities: silicoating (CoJet), acetone treatment, acid etching (H2SO4), airborne particle abrasion (Al2O3), laser irradiation (Yb:PL laser), and the nontreated surface serving as the control. Surface roughness was measured with an profilometer (n = 11) and a goniometer was used to measure the surface wettability through contact angle (theta)(n = 11). PEEK surfaces were veneered with a composite resin (n = 11). The specimens were then thermocycled for 10,000 cycles at 5 to 55 degrees C. Shear bond strengths between the PEEK and composite resin were measured with an universal test machine. One-way ANOVA was used to analyze the data. Tukey's post-hoc test was used to determine significant differences between groups (alpha = 0.05). Results Surface roughness and wettability of PEEK surfaces along with shear bond strength of PEEK to composite resin were influenced by the surface treatments. (p < 0.01) Highest mean Ra values were obtained for PEEK surfaces treated by laser irradiation (2.85 +/- 0.2 mu m) followed by airborne particle abrasion (2.26 +/- 0.33 mu m), whereas other surface treatment modalities provided similar Ra values, with the acid-etched PEEK surfaces having the lowest mean Ra values (0.35 +/- 0.14 mu m). Silicoating provided the most wettable PEEK surfaces (48.04 +/- 6.28o), followed by either acetone treatment (70.19 +/- 4.49o) or acid treatment (76.07 +/- 6.61o). Decreased wettability was observed for airborne particle abraded (84.83 +/- 4.56o) and laser-treated PEEK surfaces (103.06 +/- 4.88o). The highest mean shear bond strength values were observed for acid-etched PEEK surfaces (15.82 +/- 4.23 MPa) followed by laser irradiated (11.46 +/- 1.97 MPa), airborne particle abraded (10.81 +/- 3.06 MPa), and silicoated PEEK surfaces (8.07 +/- 2.54 MPa). Acetone-treated (5.98 +/- 1.54 MPa) and untreated PEEK surfaces (5.09 +/- 2.14 MPa) provided the lowest mean shear bond strengths. Conclusions The highest mean shear bond strengths were observed for acid-etched PEEK surfaces, followed by laser-irradiated, airborne particle abraded, and silicoated PEEK surfaces providing similar mean shear bond strengths. Since shear bond strengths higher than 10 MPa are considered acceptable, acid etching, laser irradiation, and airborne particle abrasion of PEEK surfaces may be considered viable surface treatment modalities for the PEEK material tested.