Factors influencing shear strength of incrementally cured composite resins

Factors influencing the shear strength of incremental curing of three different composite resins were examined. The first increment was cured under different surface conditions, in air, or under a coverglass. A separate experiment studied the effect of curing in nitrogen atmosphere. There was no difference in the shear strength of the specimens if the first increment was created in air or under a coverglass. One material (Heliomolar RO) showed higher shear strength when cured in increments and one when bulk-cured (Herculite XR). Curing increments in a nitrogen atmosphere increased the shear strength for two of the three materials tested (P50 and Heliomolar). The results showed that the bond strength between the increments of composites was influenced by the surface properties of the composites themselves after they had been cured under the different conditions; it was also affected by the inherent chemical and physical properties of the materials utilized.