Changes in compressive strength on ageing in glass polyalkenoate (glass-ionomer) cements prepared from acrylic/maleic acid copolymers

Previous studies have shown that glass-ionomers made from acrylic/maleic acid copolymers stored in water reach a maximum strength at about 1 week, and after 4 months have become significantly weaker. This finding, which contrasts with the behaviour of glass-ionomers based on poly(acrylic acid), was originally attributed to hydrolytic instability. This interpretation has been tested in the current work. Specimens of glass-ionomer prepared from acrylic/maleic acid copolymer have been stored for up to 4 months in different media, namely deionized water, dry air and vegetable oil, then tested for compressive strength. Specimens were in the form of cylinders of dimensions 6 mm high × 4 mm diameter, and storage temperature was 37 °C. Data were analysed using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and in all three media specimens became weaker at 4 months than they had been at 1 week (P < 0.05). However, for the specimens stored in dry air and in water, the 1-week values were not the maximum. The fact that there was a loss of strength under all conditions led to the conclusion that it is not, after all, due to hydrolysis.