Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026
09:06
Evaluation of the Curing of Adhesive Systems by Rheological and Thermal Testing
Published on: July 3, 2020
Curing efficiency of four self-etching, self-adhesive resin cements
Areti D Vrochari1, George Eliades, Elmar Hellwig
1Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology, University School and Dental Hospital, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Freiburg i. Br., Germany. aretivrochari@yahoo.gr
Summary
The degree of cure for self-etching, self-adhesive resin cements was low in both self- and dual-curing modes. These findings question their clinical efficacy, especially when light penetration is limited.
Area of Science:
- Dental Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Self-etching, self-adhesive resin cements offer simplified clinical application.
- Adequate polymerization is crucial for the mechanical properties and longevity of resin cements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the degree of cure (%DC) of four self-etching, self-adhesive resin cements and one conventional resin cement.
- To compare %DC in self-curing versus dual-curing modes.
Main Methods:
- Five resin cements were tested: RelyX Unicem, Maxcem, Biscem, Multilink Sprint, and Multilink Automix.
- Specimens were polymerized using self-curing or dual-curing (20s light irradiation) methods.
- Degree of cure was assessed using micro-ATR FTIR spectrometry.
Main Results:
- Self-curing mode yielded very low %DC (10.82-24.93%).
- Dual-curing mode also showed low %DC (26.40-41.52%), except for Multilink Automix (61.36%).
- Maxcem exhibited the lowest degree of cure overall.
Conclusions:
- The low degree of cure for most tested cements raises concerns about their clinical performance, particularly in areas with light attenuation.
- Increased light irradiation time may improve %DC in situations where light is not fully blocked.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Curing of Concrete
The hydration of cement takes place within the water-filled capillary pores. However, environmental elements can disrupt this process by evaporating water from the concrete surfaces. Sealed concrete with a water-cement ratio below 0.5 experiences self-desiccation, leading to water loss. The water loss in concrete is mitigated by curing. This technique involves keeping the concrete saturated to maintain the necessary temperature and moisture conditions, to optimally fill the spaces in the cement...
01:26Curing Methods
Concrete members with a small surface-to-volume ratio are cured by oiling and moistening the forms before casting the concrete member. These forms can be left in place for a prolonged period to prevent moisture loss, and can be wetted if made of a material suitable for wetting. If the forms are removed early, the concrete member is moistened and covered with polythene sheets to maintain moisture. For large horizontal concrete surfaces exposed to dry weather, a temporary covering is suspended...
01:25Accelerated Curing of Concrete
Accelerating concrete curing is achieved by applying heat and additional moisture. This process accelerates the hydration of the cement, resulting in an earlier strength gain in the concrete. Steam curing is a method wherein the concrete products are either transported through a chamber on a conveyor belt or encased in plastic, allowing steam at atmospheric pressure to circulate freely around them. This process begins with a phase of moist curing that typically lasts between 3 to 5 hours, after...
01:18Porosity in Cement Paste
The porosity of concrete is a measure of the void spaces within its structure. These spaces impact its strength and durability significantly. When water and cement interact, a chemical reaction called hydration creates a semi-solid paste. This paste includes combined water, making up approximately 23% of the cement's dry mass, and gel water, which fills minuscule voids known as gel pores, accounting for about 28% of the cement gel volume.
The balance of water to cement in the mix is critical—it...
The balance of water to cement in the mix is critical—it...
01:14Testing Water Quality
When the quality of water for concrete preparation is uncertain, its impact on the setting time of cement and compressive strength of mortar is assessed by comparison with de-ionized or distilled water benchmarks. American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) C1602 requires the setting times to be within 90 minutes of the control, British Standard (BS) 3146:1980 allows a 30-minute variance in the initial setting, while British Standards European Norm (BS EN) 1008 specifies initial setting...
01:12Setting Time of Cement
The setting time of cement refers to the process of cement paste transitioning from a plastic state to a solid state. This process is crucial in construction as it dictates the timeframe for concrete placement, compaction, and finishing. The onset of this solidification is termed the initial set, indicating when the paste becomes unworkable. The final set is when the paste has solidified completely, and further handling or manipulation can no longer affect its shape. The cement strength is...