Research Article

Mechanical Characterization of Thermoplastic Aligner Materials: Recommendations for Test Parameter Standardization

Table 1

Forces measured for dry, not thermoformed specimens at 0.25 mm and 0.5 mm deflections for the different specimen thicknesses with the 8 mm and 16 mm support distances.

Original foil thickness (mm)Lateral support distance of 8 mmLateral support distance of 16 mm
0.25 mm deflection0.5 mm deflection0.25 mm deflection0.5 mm deflection
Mean force (N)SD for force (N)Mean force (N)SD for force (N)Mean force (N)SD for force (N)Force (N)SD for force (N)

0.42.780.076.250.390.220.000.590.01
0.58.880.1816.360.241.280.042.280.05
0.6258.940.2019.980.631.310.042.740.20
0.7516.390.3329.970.652.330.044.730.20

The SD values represent the standard deviation of the corresponding forces.