Relaxation of polymerization contraction shear stress by hygroscopic expansion

We studied relaxation by hygroscopic expansion of the interfacial polymerization shear stress of bonded resin composites. In the experimental set-up, resin composite-cured-to-glass strips bent due to the polymerization shrinkage. The strips were stored wet or dry. The curvatures of the bent strips were recorded, by the scanning of the glass surfaces with a contact profilometer, periodically over a period of two months. From the measured deflections, we calculated the maximum tangential bending stress in the resins near the adhesive interface, which provided an estimation for the maximum shear stress values occurring at both ends of the strips. In the particular experimental set-up, the shear stresses in Bis-GMA/TEGDMA and urethane dimethacrylate-based resins were either fully relieved or converted into an "expansion stress" by hygroscopic expansion. The hydrophobic tricyclodecane dimethacrylate-based resins showed very little stress relaxation.