Thermocycling effect on microhardness of laboratory composite resins

The aim of this study was to evaluate the thermocycling effect on microhardness of laboratory composite resins. 30 disks were fabricated, 5 mm of diameter and 2mm of width, using 3 laboratory resins: G1 (n=10) - RESILAB MASTER (Wilcos-Brasil), G2 (n=10) - Vita VMLC (VITA Zahnfabrik-Germany), and G3 (n=10) - Vita Zeta (VITA Zahnfabrik-Germany). Vickers microhardness (HV) of all specimens was evaluated using a microhardness tester FM-700 (Future Tech- 50 g/10s). The specimens were measured before and after the thermocycling (3.000 times and 12.000 times - 5° /55°C±1). The microhardness values before cycling were (mean±SD): G1: 55.50±4.6; G2: 35.54±2.5; G3: 27.97±1.6.; after 3.000 thermocycles: G1: 55.54±3,9; G2: 29.92±2,73; G3:21.01±1.4 and after 12.000 cycles G1:54.27±3.2; G2: 30.91±1.6. G3: 23.81±0.9. Variance analysis (ANOVA) and Tukey's test was accomplished (p<0,05), the highest microhardness values were observed in G1; G2 and G3 showed reduction of microhardness values. It was concluded that, after thermocycling, the tested laboratory composites resins are susceptible to the decrease of surface microhardness.