Flexural Strength
The maximum stress a dental material can withstand in bending before fracture, measured in megapascals (MPa) and used as a primary indicator of mechanical performance in restorative and prosthetic materials.
Full Definition
Flexural strength (also called modulus of rupture or bending strength) is the measure of a material's resistance to fracture under a bending load, typically determined by three-point or four-point bend testing on standardised bar specimens. In dental materials research, it is reported in megapascals (MPa) and is a mandatory property for classification of dental ceramics under ISO 6872 and resin-based materials under ISO 4049. Editors must ensure the unit 'MPa' is consistently applied and not conflated with hardness values (measured in Vickers, HV) or elastic modulus (GPa). The term is frequently misrendered as 'flexure strength', which should be corrected.
Usage
Usage note: Correct 'flexure strength' to 'flexural strength'. Ensure the unit is consistently expressed as MPa. Do not conflate with fracture toughness (MPa·m¹/²) or elastic modulus (GPa).
In Context
- "The experimental ceramic exhibited a mean flexural strength of 850 MPa, exceeding the ISO 6872 minimum for posterior restorations." — ISO compliance test report
- "The copyeditor corrected 'flexure strength' to 'flexural strength' throughout the manuscript." — Editorial correction record