Change of Properties during Storage of a UDMA/TEGDMA Dental Resin

The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in viscoelastic properties of a UDMA-based dental resin as a function of time after initial light exposure. Specimens of a UDMA/TEGDMA (70:30 wt%) resin were irradiated by a visible-light-curing unit. Immediately after the irradiation, the light-cured specimen was stored in the dark for different times from 1 to 120 h at 37 °C, and characterized by means of DMA, DSC, and FTIR spectroscopy. The irradiated specimen exhibited a bimodal shape in the form of two rapid declines in log E′ corresponding to glass transition with a plateau between the two declines. Two distinct peaks were seen in tan δ versus temperature. The thermal reaction of the incompletely cured sample with residual groups trapped by the fast reaction during irradiation is responsible for the plateau. After storage, significant changes were observed in dynamic mechanical parameters, DSC exotherm, and degree of conversion. Storage modulus continued to increase during the 4 h of storage and leveled off thereafter. Peak heights of tan δ versus temperature were also influenced by storage. Degree of conversion increased from 75 ± 2% immediately after irradiation to 87 ± 3% after 120 h storage. The changes of the properties of this dental resin system when stored at 37 °C after irradiation are clinically important in terms of stability, durability, and performance after initial polymerization.