Flowability, Tear Strength, and Hydrophilicity of Current Elastomers for Dental Impressions
Fabian Huettig,
Andrea Klink,
Alexander Kohler,
Moritz Mutschler,
Frank Rupp
Affiliations
Fabian Huettig
Department of Prosthodontics at the University Clinic for Dentistry, Oral Medicine, and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Tübingen, Osianderstr. 2-8, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
Andrea Klink
Department of Prosthodontics at the University Clinic for Dentistry, Oral Medicine, and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Tübingen, Osianderstr. 2-8, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
Alexander Kohler
Section Medical Materials Science and Technology, Department of Biomedical Engeneering, University Hospital Tübingen, Osianderstr. 2-8, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
Moritz Mutschler
Department of Prosthodontics at the University Clinic for Dentistry, Oral Medicine, and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Tübingen, Osianderstr. 2-8, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
Frank Rupp
Section Medical Materials Science and Technology, Department of Biomedical Engeneering, University Hospital Tübingen, Osianderstr. 2-8, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
This study investigates 2 polyethers (PE), 2 polyvinylsiloxanethers (VXSE), and 10 polyvinylsiloxanes (PVS), seven of which had a corresponding light-body consistency and seven of which had a corresponding heavy-body consistency. Each light-body elastomer underwent a flowability test using the shark fin method 20, 50, and 80 s after mixing. The tear strength test DIN 53504 was used after setting the time (T0). Next, 24 h later (T1), hydrophilicity testing was used with static contact angles in water drops during polymerization (20, 50, and 80 s, as well as after 10 min). The heavy-body elastomers underwent shark fin testing with a corresponding light-body material at 50 and 80 s after mixing. The results of light-body testing were combined in a score to describe their performance. The highest differences were detected within flowability in shark fin heights between PE and a PVS (means of 15.89 and 6.85 mm) within the maximum tear strengths at T0 between a PVS and PE (3.72 and 0.75 MPa), as well as within hydrophilicity during setting between VXSE and a PVS (15.09° and 75.5°). The results indicate that VSXE and novel PVS materials can significantly compensate shortcomings in PE towards tear strength and hydrophilicity, but not flowability.
