Cure behaviour of visible light activated dental composites

✍ Scribed by A. Maffezzoli; R. Terzi; L. Nicolais

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1995
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 550 KB
• Volume: 6
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0957-4530
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00120292

✦ Synopsis

During curing of multifunctional methacrylate-based composites for dental restorations, strong structural changes, significantly affecting the final properties of the materials, are observed. In fact, the polymerization of thermoset matrices involves the transformation of a viscous liquid in a glassy network. The final glass transition temperature of the composite matrix may be considered a relevant parameter for the durability of a restoration. In this study, the complex cure behaviour of a commercial dental composite, activated by visible-light, is analysed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The maximum degree of reaction of the crosslinked resin and the characteristic glass transition temperature are quantitatively related to the cure temperature. Furthermore, a kinetic model, accounting also for the diffusion control effects associated with vitrification, is presented. Finally, the cure behaviour expected during practical application of these materials in the oral cavity for dental restorations, is discussed.