Effects of pigmentation, disinfection and aging in the physical and mechanical properties of a experimental modified silicone for maxillofacial prosthesis

Abstract

The objective of this study is to evaluate an experimental modified silicone having as a parameter a silicone commonly used in the manufacture of facial prosthesis (MDX 4-4210) subject to the following conditions: pigmentation, aging and disinfection. The variables will change color, hardness and tear strength. Specimens 120 and 160 with circular shape are obtained dumbbell shaped from metal matrix. The specimens of each material will be divided into 4 groups according to the addition of intrinsic pigmentation (PI) by the addition of powdered makeup, addition of opacifier (OP - BaSO4), the combination of both (PI + OP) and without adding IP or OP. Then, the specimens will be randomly divided into 3 subgroups to aging by exposure to ultraviolet light (UV, n = 10) and natural light (NL, n = 10) and control, absence of light (C , n = 10) . The accelerated ultraviolet aging simulates a period of 12 months. Specimens in groups C and LN will be accompanied by the same period. After the tests, will be performed surface analysis spectroscopy by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive (EDS) in order to detect possible changes in tested silicon surface.