Effect of polyacid aqueous solutions on photocuring of polymerizable components of resin-modified glass ionomer cements

Objectives. Resin-modified glass ionomer cements (RMGI) are hybrid materials prepared by incorporation of polymerizable components (typically 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) with possible addition of multifunctional methacrylates) into a conventional acid–base mixture (a polymeric acid with powdered calcium fluoro-aluminosilicate glasses). During setting, the photopolymerization process and the acid–base reaction affect each other. The aim of this work was to examine the effect of a 45% aqueous solution of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and the liquid component of a commercial glass ionomer cement on HEMA and triethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) photopolymerization. Methods. The polymerization was initiated by 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone (DMPA) and camphorquinone (CQ)/coinitiator system. The reaction course was monitored under Ar and air by isothermal differential scanning calorimetry. Results. The main effect of addition of polyacid solution (PAA and commercial) up to 10 wt% to HEMA on the polymerization initiated with DMPA was earlier onset of autoacceleration. For the process initiated by the CQ-based system, the addition of 5 wt% of PAA solution strongly accelerated the polymerization and increased the conversion, both in Ar atmosphere as well as in air. TEGDMA photopolymerization was not influenced or slightly retarded by the presence of 3 wt% of PAA solution (the upper limit of solubility), depending on the initiating system used. Significance. Under initiation conditions used in curing of commercial dental products (CQ-based two component initiating system), the presence of polyacid-aqueous solution in HEMA-based photocurable component increases markedly the polymerization rate and the conversion both in Ar atmosphere as well as in air. This result contributes to a characterization of the setting process of RMGIs.