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The degree of polymerisation shrinkage of adhesive resin cements
L C Prinsloo1, P J van der Vyver
1Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Pretoria.
Abstract:
The degree of polymerisation (DP) of modern resin cements has a significant role to play in determining the ultimate physical and mechanical properties of the material. This study was undertaken to determine the DP of three adhesive resin cements, viz. 3M Opal Cement (3M), Enforce (E, Caulk/Dentsply) and C epsilon tB-Metabond (CB, Parkell). Spectra of both light-cured (3M and E) and self-cured (3M, E and CB) samples were obtained at different time intervals from 3 minutes after mixing the cement up to 24 hours, using a Dilor Raman Confocal Microprobe. The DP of the different cement specimens was calculated from the spectra and statistically analysed (ANOVA). There was a statistically significant difference (P < 0.01) between the DP of 3M and E in the two different activation modes. The light-cured specimens attained a statistically higher degree of polymerisation. CB obtained a statistically significant higher degree of polymerisation (P < 0.01) compared with 3M and E at 24 hours.
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