A new kinetic model for the photopolymerization shrinkage-strain of dental composites and resin-monomers.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to develop a new kinetic model for the shrinkage-strain rates of dental resin composites. The effect of filler content on the shrinkage-strain kinetics and degree of conversion of dental composites was also investigated.


METHODS
A resin matrix containing 65 wt.% Bis-GMA and 35 wt.% TEGDMA was prepared. 0.5 wt.% camphorquinone and 0.5 wt.% dimethyl aminoethyl methacrylate were dissolved in the resin as photo-initiator system. Silanized glass fillers were added in different percentages to the resin-monomers. The shrinkage-strain of the specimens photopolymerized at circa 550 mW/cm2 was measured using the bonded-disc technique at 23, 37 and 45 degrees C for the matrix monomers and 23 degrees C for the composites. Initial shrinkage-strain rates were obtained by numerical differentiation of shrinkage-strain data with respect to time. Degree-of-conversion of the composites containing different filler contents was measured using FTIR spectroscopy.


RESULTS
A new kinetic model was developed for the shrinkage-strain rate using the autocatalytic model of Kamal [Kamal MR, Sourour S. Kinetic and thermal characterization of thermoset cure. Polym Eng Sci 1973;13(1):59-64], which is used to describe the reaction kinetics of thermoset resins. The model predictions were in good agreement with the experimental data. The results also showed a linear correlation between the shrinkage-strain (and shrinkage-strain rate) and filler-volume fraction. The filler fraction did not affect the degree-of-conversion of the composites.


CONCLUSIONS
The rate of polymerization, determined via the shrinkage, being invariant with filler-fraction, suggests that only a relatively high filler-surface area, as may be obtained with nano-fillers, will affect the network-forming kinetics of the resin matrix.
Atai
Mohammad
M
Iran Polymer and Petrochemical Institute (IPPI), P.O. Box 14965/115, Tehran, Iran. M.Atai@ippi.ac.ir
Watts
David C
DC
D017438:Bisphenol A-Glycidyl Methacrylate / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D005544:Forecasting; D005898:Glass / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008027:Light; D008422:Materials Testing; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D008956:Models, Chemical; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D012821:Silanes / Q000737:chemistry; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature; D013729:Terpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects
D003188:Composite Resins; D003764:Dental Materials; D008689:Methacrylates; D011108:Polymers; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids; D012821:Silanes; D013729:Terpenes; C009753:fiberglass; C020946:triethylene glycol dimethacrylate; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D017438:Bisphenol A-Glycidyl Methacrylate; C048339:camphoroquinone; C049840:2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate