FTIR investigation of monomer polymerisation and polyacid neutralisation kinetics and mechanisms in various aesthetic dental restorative materials

Diamond ATR FTIR has been used to quantify light catalysed polymerisation and polyacid neutralisation rates in various glass ionomer cements (GIC), resin-modified GICs (RMGIC) and compomers. At 150 s after the start of light exposure, levels of methacrylate polymerisation on the lower surfaces of 1 mm thick specimens were 97% and 98% for the RMGIC, Vitremer and Fuji II LC and 47% and 37% for the compomers, Compoglass and Dyract. After light exposure, polymerisation rates for the compomers decreased linearly with inverse time. By 50,000 s Compoglass and Dyract were 62% and 51% polymerised. Initial rate of polyacid neutralisation in the GIC Shofu HIFI was 0.32 times that of Fuji IX GIC. Those in Vitremer, Fuji II LC, Compoglass and Dyract were 0.16, 0.09, 0.004 and 0.004 times that of Fuji IX. Excluding short initial periods, log of neutralisation rates decreased linearly with log-time. Average gradients were −1.35 for the GIC, −0.80 for the RMGIC and −0.59 for the compomers. By 50,000 s, polyacid salt concentrations for the RMGIC and compomers were 0.41 and 0.016 times that of the GIC. Reaction mechanisms have been discussed and used to help interpret material mechanical properties, fluoride release rates and adhesion to tooth structure.