Journal of Dental Research, Vol 74, 715-720, Copyright © 1995 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
Factors affecting the adherence energy of experimental resin cements bonded to a nickel-chromium alloy
E. Asmussen, J. P. Attal and M. Degrange
Department of Dental Materials, School of Dentistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Reliable adherence of resin-based cements is of prime importance for the
longevity of cemented restorations. The present study investigated whether
a relationship exists between adherence energy to a metal substrate and the
degree of cross-linking and wetting characteristics of resin-based luting
agents. The adherence energies between a sand-blasted metal surface and a
series of experimental resin cements were measured by means of the wedge
test. The degree of cross-linking was calculated from the monomer
composition of the resin cements. The measured wetting characteristics were
work of adhesion and surface tension, and their dispersive and polar
components. Adherence energy varied between 22 and 81 J/m2 and was
influenced by the nature of the resin cements: Those with a low degree of
cross-linking resulted in high adherence values. Furthermore, resin cements
whose monomers were relatively polar gave rise to high adherence values.
Although other metals may not behave in exactly the same way, these results
may help in the formulation of new, more retentive resin cements.
