Regresar

Porosity, microstructure and thermal stability of microwave-cured polymeric denture molds

Abstract:

The relevance of controlling the chemical structure, thermal stability, composition and the porosity, of microwave-cured polymeric denture-molds is a key parameter if some degree of control of the corresponding adhesion among components is to be achieved. Different microwave-cured only polymer blends (Epoxy resin + Hardener) for producing denture molds were characterized by different techniques and compared to microwave-cured composites, also used for producing denture molds (Epoxy resin + Hardener + Alumina). In both cases the porosity was characterized by SEM, and the best material (in terms of porosity) was then subjected also to thermal and structural characterization. The results show the lowest porosity for the 90% Epoxy resin + 10% Hardener blend. The morphology shows a homogeneous surface with irregular particles smaller than five microns and voids-free. Also, the optimum temperature 100.8°C for microwave-cured denture molds was achieved with only a 0.64% loss of the original mass. © 2000 OPA (Overseas Publishers Association) N.V. Published by license under the Gordon and Breach Science Publishers imprint.