The fracture of acrylic resin prostheses often occures at the concentrated parts of tensile stress. In this paper the reinforcement by affixing thin Ni-Cr alloy metal plate to acrylic resin was proposed.
In order to investigate the validity of the reinforcement, specimens were subjected to threepoint bending test. The effects of different location of the metal plate and adhesive methods on reinforcement were studied, with the following results.
1. No effect on the reinforcement was obtained when metal plate was placed in the middle layer of the cross-section.
2. When metal plate was placed on the compression side, stiffness incresed, but strength was not improved under low load.
3. When metal plate was placed on the tensile side, the maximual effect of the reinforcement was obtained.
4. Adhesion with 4-META was more effective than mechanical interrocking in increasing strength.