Abstract: The fracture and tribological evaluation of dental composite resin containing pre-polymerized particle fillers were investigated. Composite resins, e.g. metafil, silux plus, heliomolar and palfique estelite were selected as specimens in order to evaluate the effects of pre-polymerized particle filler on the fracture and wear characteristics of composite resins. In the wear tests, a ball-on-flat wear test method was used. The friction coefficient of metafil was quite high. The wear resistance of silux plus and palfique estelite was better than that of metafil and heliomolar under the same experimental condition. The main wear mechanism of composite resins containing pre-polymerized particle fillers was an abrasive wear by brittle fracture of pre-polymerized particles and by debonding of fillers and matrix.

Key words: Composite resin, Tribology, Dental materials, Pre-polymerization, Wear mechanism