[Aging effect on mechanical properties in fluid resin. (Part 1). Affection of residual monomer (author's transl)]

Aging effect on the mechanical properties in fluid resins was pointed out, but little was studied on this point. Relationship between amount of residual monomer in the samples prepared by fluid resin and the mechanical properties, brinell hardness, tensile strength, were studied. Test pieces just as polymerized in the size were used. Weights of specimens kept at three different circumstances, in the air at 20 degrees C, in a water bath at 37 degrees C and in a desiccator at 11 mmHg and 40 degrees C, was checked at the prescribed time to clarify the amount of residual monomer and the mechanical properties were measured at the same time. Amount of weight loss, due to evaporation of MMA, must improve the mechanical properties. The improvement by postpolymerization could be neglected. Rate of the weight loss suggests that residual monomer must mainly be at the surface. Molecular weight of PMMA, 86.4 X 10(4) did not have any effect on the mechanical properties and on the evaporation rate of monomers from polymerized specimens. To improve the mechanical properties of fluid resin must be to decrease residual monomer as much as possible in the fluid resin especially at the surface area.