The determination of phosphorus containing compounds in dental casting investment products by 31P solid-state MAS-NMR spectroscopy

Objectives To use 31P solid-state MAS-NMR to determine the phosphorus compounds that occur in dental casting investment material: (a) as-received, (b) after setting and (c) after burn-out and discover whether such compounds are the same in each material across a product range. Methods {1H} High powered decoupling (HPDC) and {1H} cross-polarization (CP) 31P solid-state MAS-NMR spectroscopy at a resonance frequency of 121.4 MHz were used. Six commercial products were examined. Manufacturerʹs instructions were followed and a special liquid was used without dilution. Results All products contain ammonium dihydrogen phosphate as the acid phosphate required for the setting reaction. All set by the formation of struvite and significant amounts of amorphous magnesium orthophosphate. In three products, lesser amounts of newberyite were present and in another the equivalent amorphous compound was formed. When burnt-out, magnesium metaphosphate or pyrophosphate was the dominant matrix compound. A higher burn-out temperature favoured pyrophosphate formation. Farringtonite was present to a lesser extent with the metaphosphate. Significance Compounds that were not detected in earlier X-ray powder diffraction spectroscopy studies were detected by NMR, notably amorphous and glassy compounds (magnesium orthophosphate in set investment and magnesium metaphosphate in burnt-out material). The variation between products was significant and far greater than expected from the published scientific literature. Since the formation of compounds is affected by technical procedure and ambient conditions, these findings could offer some insight into the cause of the unpredictability of expansion measurements between laboratories. Further research is being undertaken.