Viscoelastic behavior and fracture toughness of six glass-ionomer cements

Viscoelastic behavior can influence the fracture properties of glass ionomers, which is of clinical relevance. Glass-ionomer cements can display viscoelastic behavior, defined as having displacement rate- or strain rate-dependent mechanical properties. Understanding and describing the viscoelastic behavior of glass ionomers is important to understanding their clinical behavior.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the viscoelastic behavior of 6 glass-ionomer cements and determine whether there was a correlation to fracture toughness.

Three conventional glass-ionomer cements (alpha-Silver, alpha-Fil, and Ketac-Molar) and 3 resin-modified glass-ionomer cements (Vitremer, Fuji II LC, and Photac-Fil Quick) were evaluated using measurements of compressive strength (CS), flexural strength (FS), and diametral tensile strength (DTS) at displacement rates of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 mm/min. The CS and DTS specimens were cured in glass tubes and cut to 4 x 6-mm and 4 x 2-mm disk-shaped specimens, respectively. The FS specimens were cured in bar molds (2 x 2 x 15 mm). The fracture toughness (FT) specimens were cured in a minicompact mold to obtain precracked specimens. The mechanical testing results were compared statistically using generalized linear model/analysis of covariance and the Ryan-Einot-Gabriel-Welsch multiple range test at the alpha=.05 level.

For all 3 mechanical properties, there was a displacement-rate dependence on the mechanical property. However, there were no differences in the displacement-rate dependence based on the type of material-conventional glass ionomer or resin-modified glass ionomer-for any of the mechanical properties. Only for FS test was there a significant difference based on the brand of material. There was no statistical difference in FT among the glass-ionomer cements tested, although the resin-modified glass ionomers tended to display higher FT.

A larger sample size and a much wider range of crosshead speeds are necessary to support a correlation between viscoelastic behavior and FT.