DTG thermal analyses and viscosity measurements of three commercial agar impression materials

Three commercial agar impression materials, two for clinical uses and one for dental laboratory, were examined for their thermal properties by differential thermogravimetric (DTG) thermal analyses and viscosity measurements. On DTG profiles, an endothermic peak along with weight loss at around 100 degrees C was observed on all three agar impression materials as a result of water evaporation. Two clinical agar impression materials were more susceptible to this trend than the remaining one dental laboratory agar impression material. The viscosity of three agar impression materials could be expressed in the exponential function of temperature. Viscosity at 46 degrees C of one dental laboratory agar impression material far exceeded those of two clinical agar impression materials. Monitoring the viscosity could facilitate the detailed analysis of setting process of agar impression materials upon cooling, and might be useful for future development of agar-based dental impression materials.