Boundary lubrication and maxillofacial prosthetic polydimethylsiloxanes

Polydimethylsiloxanes exhibit hydrophobic behaviour and poor wettability. These features impose some problems with the clinical performance of the material when used for the construction of intraoral and extraoral facial prostheses. Surface active agents were added to modify the surface energy of the polydimethylsiloxane and contact angle measurements were carried out to observe wetting characteristics. Five siloxane-alkene oxide block copolymers, one organosilicon quaternary ammonium chloride and an epoxyalkyl silane ester were used as surfactants. The best surfactant in terms of permanency and contact angle lowering achieved a value of 24 degrees when added at 10% level compared with 57 degrees for the unmodified silicone. The fairly high viscosity, combined with a comb-like structure, together with the high hydroxyl number of 75 provided the correct balance of permanence and wetting characteristics.