DENTAL POLYMERS

Resin is a broad term used to

describe natural or synthetic
substance that form plastic material
after polymerization.
GPT 8
Polymer (poly = many; mer =unit).

Classification - thermal behaviour

THERMO SETTING POLYMERS undergo a
chemical change and become permanently hard
when heated and do not soften on reheating.
THERMO PLASTIC POLYMERS are made of
linear and / or branched chains they soften
when heated above its glass transition
temperature at which molecular motion begins
to force the chains apart on cooling. It will
harden to its original form.

ELASTOMERS
Found on naturally occurring latex
isolated from Hevea brasiliensis.
Exhibit elasticity.
Used as impression material.

REQUISITES FOR
DENTAL RESINS
Biological compatibility.
Physical properties.
Ease of manipulation.
Aesthetic qualities.
Economical consideration.
Chemical stability.

NATURE OF POLYMERS
Chain length
Extent of chain branching & cross
linking.
Organization of chains.

CHAIN LENGTH &

MOLECULAR WEIGHT
Longer the polymer chain-greater the number
of entanglement.
Rigidity, strength, melting temperature
increase with increase in chain length. An
average value is needed to express the
molecular weight of polymers.
Two types of average are
Mn is based on the average number of mer
repeating units in a chain,
Mw is based on the molecular weight of the
average chain
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the ratio of Mw / Mn is called as polydispersity.

polydispersity is a measure of the range and
distribution of chain size
A polymer with narrow Mw distribution gives the
most desired properties
Higher the Mw of the polymer made from a
single monomer, higher the degree of
polymerization.
Strength of the resin increases with increase of
polymerization.
_

CHAIN BRANCHING &

CROSS LINKING

COPOLYMER

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MOLECULAR ORGANIZATION
Most polymeric materials combine these two
forms of organization in greater or lesser
proportions.
Factors that reduce or prevent crystallinity
include the following:
Copolymerization.
Long branched polymers.
Random arrangement of substituent .
Plasticizers.

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PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
OF POLYMERS
DEFORMATION AND RECOVERY:
Plastic deformation: irreversible.
Elastic deformation: reversible and
completely recovered.
Viscoelastic deformation: combination of
plastic & elastic strain- partial recovery.

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Rheometric properties:
Plastic flow:

Elastic recovery:

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 Viscoelastic recovery:

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SOLVATION PROPERTIES
Longer the chains- more slowly a polymer dissolves.
Polymers tend to absorb a solvent, swell and
soften, rather than dissolve.
Cross-linking- prevents complete chain separation &
dissolution.
Elastomers swell more than plastics.
Swelling of dental polymeric devices- ill fit of
prosthesis.
Absorbed molecules spread polymer chainsplasticization.

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PLASTICIZERS IN POLYMERS
When added to resin.
reduce the brittleness and strength.
reduce the softening/fusion temperature
Partial neutralization of the secondary bonds /inter molecule
forces that normally prevent the resin molecules from slipping
past one another when the material is stretched.
Plasticizing is brought about by external and internal plasticizers
External plasticizer -it is an high-boiling compound. it
penetrates between the macromolecules and increases the
intermolecular spacing
Internal plasticizer -it is a suitable copolymer which will
increase inter molecular space via pendent groups. eg. Butyl
methacrylate segments added to methylmethacrylate.

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THERMAL PROPERTIES
Glass transition temperature( Tg):

-polar

bonds

- Primary bonds

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POLYMERIZATION
The forming of compound by the joining
together of molecules of small molecular
weight into a compound of large molecular
weight.
Two types:
Addition polymerization.
Step-growth or condensation
polymerization

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STAGES OF ADDITIONAL
POLYMERIZATION

INDUCTION
PROPAGATION
CHAIN TRANSFER
TERMINATION

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INDUCTION
Induction or initiation is the time during which the molecules of
the initiator become energized and start transfer the energy to
monomer molecules .
Two process control the induction stage : Activation and initiation.

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Activator
Can be chemical,heat visible light,ultraviolet light
or energy transfer from another compound which
will activate initiator to produce free
radical/reactive species/active radical.
Initiator
Are free radical producing molecules.
This are the molecules contain one relatively week
bond which is able to undergo decomposition to
form 2 reactive species with unstable electronic
configuration.
Each carrying an unpaired electron
R - - R + ACTIVATOR = 2 R*

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ACTIVATION
Heat activation- 74c(71 to 77c )
Chemical activation
Tertiary amines or stable salts of sulfinic acids.
Commonly used tertiary amines are
N,N-dimethyl-para-toludine,
N,N-dihyroxy-para-toludine.

Initiator
Benzoyl peroxide 0.5% TO 1.5%
Diisobutylazonitrile

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Visible light activation

PHOTO INITIATO is CAMPHOROQUINONE
Conc used: approx 0.2 wt%
Has an absorption range between 400-500
nm (in the region of visible light spectrum)

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Initiation

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PROPAGATION
The resulting free radical complex then acts as a new free radical
center when it approaches another monomer to form a dimer,
which also becomes free radical . This reactive species in turn, can
add successively to a large number of monomer molecules so that
polymerization process continues through the propagation of
reactive center.

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CHAIN TRANSFER
In this process the active reactive
species of growing chain is transferred to
another molecule and a new free radical
for further growth is created.

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TERMINATION
It is possible for the
propagation reaction to
continue until the supply
of monomer is
exhausted.

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INHIBITION OF
POLYMERIZATION

Any impurity in the monomer that can react with free radicals will
inhibit or retard the polymerization. Which intern effects on
initiation period as well as degree of polymerization.
methylether or hydroquinone in Conc. Of 0.006%
butylatedhydroxy toluene in Conc. Of 0.01 wt%
.May react with

Inhibition effect of OXYGEN

-Activated initiator
- Activated nucleus
-Activated growing chain to prevent further growth of chain

Presence of oxygen often causes retardation of the polymerization as

oxygen can react with the free radicals.
So the degree and reaction velocity of polymerization are less if conducted
in open air
Intern influence of oxygen is governed by factors such as con. of oxygen,
temperature, light.

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STEP-GROWTH / CONDENSATION
POLYMERIZATION
Chemical reaction mechanism that join two
or more molecules in producing a simple ,
nonmacromolecule with formation of by
products

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APPLICATIONS OF
RESINS IN
DENTISTRY
Synthetic resins are used in a variety of dental
applications. Typical uses include the following:

Dentures (bases, liners, and artificial teeth)

Cavity-filling materials ("composites")
Sealants
Equipment (mixing bowls)
Cements (resin-based)

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ACRYLIC DENTAL
RESINS
METHYLMETHACRYLATE
POLYMETHYLMETHACRYLATE
MULTIUNCTIONAL METHACRYLATE

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METHYL METHACRYLATE
Methyl methacrylate is a transparent liquid at room temperature with the following
physical properties:
Molecular weight = 100
Melting point = -48 C
Boiling point = 100.8 C
Density = 0.945 g/mL at 20 C
Heat of polymerization = -12.9 kcal/mol
Methyl methacrylate exhibits a high vapor pressure and is an excellent organic
solvent.
A volumeshrinkage of 21% occurs during the polymerization of the pure methyl
methacrylate

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POLYMETHYL METHACRYLATE
Polymethyl methacrylate is a transparent resin and it transmits
light in the ultraviolet range to a wavelength of 250 nm.
It is a hardresin with a Knoop hardness number of 18 to 20.
tensile strength 60 MPa,
Density 1.19 g/cm3, and a
modulus of elasticity 2.4 GPa (2400 MPa).
This polymer is extremely stable. It does not discolor in
ultraviolet light.
It is chemically stable to heat and softens at125 C, and it
can be molded as a thermoplastic material. Between 125 and
200 C.

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UDMA
Various dimethacrylate resin combinations have been
explored through the years in attempts to reduce
viscosity and to increase the degree of conversion.
The resin group that has shown promise is urethane
dimethacrylate (UDMA). This UDMA group can be
described as any monomer chain containing one or
more urethane groups and two methacrylate end
groups .

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