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Updated: Jul 30, 2026
09:32
Cooling Rate Dependent Ellipsometry Measurements to Determine the Dynamics of Thin Glassy Films
Published on: January 27, 2016
Thermal expansion of glassy polymers
1Dental School, Royal London Hospital Medical College IRC for BiomedicalMaterials, University of London, UK.
Biomaterials
|January 1, 1992
Summary
The thermal expansion of dental polymers was measured. Expansion varied by polymer type, with linear expansion allowing easy determination of the coefficient of thermal expansion.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Science
- Biomaterials
Background:
- Dental polymers are crucial in restorative dentistry.
- Understanding their thermal properties is vital for material performance and longevity.
- Previous studies may not have comprehensively analyzed thermal expansion across various dental polymers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the thermal expansion behavior of dental polymers.
- To determine the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) for these materials.
- To explore the relationship between polymer structure and thermal expansion.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a quartz dilatometer for precise thermal expansion measurements.
- Studied multiple glassy polymers relevant to dental applications.
- Analyzed both linear and non-linear expansion behaviors across different temperature ranges.
Main Results:
- Observed both linear and non-linear thermal expansion in studied polymers.
- Successfully determined the coefficient of thermal expansion for polymers exhibiting linear behavior.
- Reported temperature-specific CTE values for polymers with non-linear expansion.
- Found a preliminary correlation between CTE and the molar/van der Waals volume of polymer repeating units.
Conclusions:
- The thermal expansion of dental polymers is material-dependent.
- The coefficient of thermal expansion is influenced by the polymer's molecular structure.
- This research provides foundational data for selecting and designing dental polymers with improved thermal stability.
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