Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of artificial aging and immersing solutions on the color stability and surface roughness of polyether ether ketone material in relation to surface polishing and glazing.
Materials and Methods: a total number of 80 plates were sliced out of reinforced polyether ether ketone PEEK blanks. The samples were divided into two main groups according to polishing and glazing protocols (n=40) then each group was further divided into four subgroups according to the artificial aging and staining protocols (n=10). Artificial aging was done by aging by exposure to light for 120 min and water spraying for 18 min under artificial daylight (D65 illuminant). For staining, samples were subjected to thermos-cycling in colored solutions (coffee and cola) at different temperatures (50 ◦C and 5 ◦C). The average color difference (ΔE) was calculated, profilometer was used to measure the Surface roughness. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to statistically analyze the data. The significance level was set at P ≤ 0.05.
Results: The mean values of the average color difference revealed that artificial aging and staining significantly affected PEEK color stability and surface roughness.
Conclusions: artificial aging and staining have a noticeable effect on the surface roughness and color stability of Polyether ether ketone material. Also, the Glazing of Polyether ether ketone has better surface roughness and color stability results.