Color Changes in Dry Pigmented Tech-Sil25 Maxillofacial Elastomer after Artificial Weathering

Maxillofacial prosthesis that processed from silicone elastomer materials have their own physical properties that will lead to degradation on frequent subjection to ultra violet sunlight that will need to replacement of the prosthesis because of its pigments undergo color changes.

The objective of this study isto evaluate effect of three periods of artificial aging at (75h, 150h, 300h) on color changes of room temperature volcanized (Tech-sil25) silicone maxillofacial material after incorporation 0.2% by weight of dry pigment (Burnt sienna) by using spectrophotometer test.

Total of20 circular disk (2mm thick and 20mm diameter) specimens were fabricated by incorporation of 0.2% by weight of Burnt sienna to room temperature vulcanized (Tech-Sil25) silicon divided into two groups control and study group, 10 samples for each group. The control group samples wastested for color change with spectrophotometer and the study group were subjected to artificial weathering ultraviolet for (75, 150, and 300 h) then after each period they tested for color change with spectrophotometer. All data were analyzed with a descriptive statistical analysis, one-way ANOVA test, LSD test.

Subjection of the burnt sienna pigmented (Tech-sil25) maxillofacial silicone elastomers to ultraviolet light resulted in a highly significant increase (P≤ 0.01) in mean values of color absorbance after artificial weathering for (150–300 hours) where there is no significant differences in mean values of color absorbance after artificial weathering for (75 hours).

The color change in silicone elastomer pigmented with burnt sienna is increase with increasing the aging period.