Journal of Dental Research, Vol 74, 1597-1601, Copyright © 1995 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
The effects of cross-linking agents on some properties of HEMA-based resins
T. Arima, T. Hamada and J. F. McCabe
Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, Hiroshima University, School of Dentistry, Japan.
The use of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA)-based polymer as a
biocompatible material has been well-established. HEMA-based resins
containing cross-linking agents have several potential clinical
applications. It is hypothesized that the incorporation of cross-linking
agent will improve the mechanical properties of HEMA-based polymers while
reducing water absorption and solubility. The purpose of the work reported
here was to test this hypothesis and to determine the most effective
cross-linking agent. A relationship among flexural strength, modulus, water
absorption and solubility, and concentration of cross-linking agent was
demonstrated. Strength and modulus tend to increase as the cross-linking
agent concentration is increased, up to about 50%, after which the values
level out or begin to fall. Water absorption drops with increasing
cross-linking agent over the whole range of concentrations. Solubility
tends to show a small decrease initially (up to 40%), followed by a
noticeable increase as cross-linking agent concentration is increased. The
trends were similar for all cross-linking agents, although there were
differences in the absolute values in all properties depending upon the
type of cross-linking agent used.
