Dynamic mechanical analysis of elastic modulus development of dental composites

Abstract A method based on the compression mode of a dynamic mechanical analysis was first reported to measure the real‐time elastic modulus of dental composites during photopolymerization. By using this novel method, it was easy to investigate the real‐time development of mechanical property of dental materials. Because the modulus development was the consequence of photopolymerization, the modulus development was governed by the double‐bond conversion. High energy dose obtained by using high light intensity or long exposure time increased the “final” modulus because of the increase of conversion, but decreased the contribution of postpolymerization to the “final” modulus because of mobility limitation at high conversion. Moreover, the vitrification effect played the important role for the development of elastic modulus. The modulus significantly increased in the stage of vitrification.POLYM. COMPOS., 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers