EFFECT OF DATE SEED NANOPARTICLES LOADING ON THE MECHANICAL AND TRIBOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF COLD CURED PMMA DENTURE BASE

This work explores the effectiveness of date seed nanoparticles (DS NPs) as reinforcing agents for cold-cured polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) used in denture base applications. PMMA nanocomposites containing DS NPs in the range of 0 – 1.0 wt.% were prepared and evaluated in terms of compressive strength, Shore D surface hardness, and tribological behavior using a pin-on-disk test. The dispersion and morphology of the nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, while scanning electron microscopy was employed to assess the wear mechanisms of the tested surfaces. The findings revealed that the incorporation of DS NPs led to marked improvements in the mechanical and tribological performance of PMMA, including a 17.66 % enhancement in compressive strength, a 7.74 % increase in hardness, and notable reductions of 29.64 % in wear rate and 26.90 % in the coefficient of friction relative to unreinforced PMMA. Among the investigated formulations, the composite containing 0.8 wt. % DS NPs exhibited the most favorable overall performance, highlighting the role of these nanoparticles in enhancing the durability and wear resistance of PMMA denture base materials.