Effect of amine activators on the properties of chemical cured dental composites

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reactivity and the effect of concentration of three tertiary amines upon the mechanical properties of a chemical curing dental composite. Chemical cured composite pastes were prepared by keeping peroxide concentration constant at 1 wt% (by weight of resin mixture) and by varying the amine/peroxide molar ratio from 0.25 to 1.5. Composite samples were prepared for all three amine pastes aged for 1, 15, 30, 45, and 60 d stored at 8, 22, and 37 degrees C. The loss in activity of the tertiary amine with time was measured. Changes in compressive strength, diametral tensile strength, and microhardness were also measured. A sharp decrease in working and setting times corresponding to increased activity was noticed with an increased amine content. The activity was found to vary in the order N,N-dimethyl p-toluidine (DMPT) > 2-(4-dimethylaminophenyl)ethanol (DMAPEA) > N,Ndiethanol p-toluidine (DEPT). DMPT is found to be more temperature sensitive than DMAPEA and DEPT. However, DEPT is found to provide better storage stability out of all three amines tested. Each amine was found to possess optimum concentrations at which the mechanical properties showed maximum values. DEPT is preferred for long-term storage stability in chemical-cured dental composites where aging tends to reduce the activity of the amine.