Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of dark room storage, neutral soap (shampoo) and outdoor weathering on the mechanical properties (roughness, flexibility and elastic recovery) of maxillofacial silicone elastomer.
Material and Methods: 60 specimen were prepared and divided into 3 groups (n=20).And conditioned differently as follows: Group I: Dark room storage; Group II: Neutral soap disinfection (shampoo); Group III: Outdoor natural weathering for 2 months. Specimens were subjected to roughness evaluation using scanning electron microscope, flexibility test and elastic recovery by means of materials testing device (Model LRX-plus; Lloyd Instruments Ltd., Fareham, UK) before storage, after 1 month and one more after another 1 month.
Results: There was significant increase in the roughness of natural weathering group, roughness decreases in dark room and shampoo groups. There was increase also in the flexibility in natural weathering group and decrease in dark room and shampoo groups. Finally in the recovery percentage there was decrease in natural weathering group but increase in both dark room and shampoo groups.
Conclusions: Natural weathering conditions affected the mechanical properties of maxillofacial silicone.