Novel Fluorescence Method for Cure Monitoring of Photo-Cured Composites

Published

March 1, 2002

Author(s)

K Komatsu, Francis W. Wang, K Nemoto

Abstract

The mechanical properties of a composite resin depend greatly on the degree of its conversion. This study used a fluorescence monitoring system to investigate the dependence of the conversion of a photo-cured composite resin on its filler content. In this system, a curing light was used not only to cure the composite resin but also to excite a fluorescent probe dissolved in the resin. The photo-cured composite resin was prepared from spherical silica particles [mass fraction: (20, 40, 60 or 80) %] and a mixed monomer (Bis-GMA and TEGDMA, mass ratio of one) containing a photo-initiator (CQ and EDMAB) and a fluorescent probe (AGPBS). The composite resin was placed in a cylindrical cavity (6 mm in diameter and 4 mm in depth), and its fluorescence was detected at the distal ends of the optical fibers (0.5 mm in diameter) located at the center and at the edge of the composite resin. After the exposure of the composite resin to the curing light for 100 s, the fluorescence spectrum of the fluorescent probe, excited at 460 nm by the curing light, was measured with a spectrometer. The ratio of the fluorescence intensities at 622 nm and 718 nm decreased with increasing filler content of the composite resin for both detection positions. This result indicated that the conversion of the monomer in the composite resin decreased with increasing filler content because the attenuation of the curing-light intensity owing to light scattering by silica particles depended on the filler content in the composite resin. It was concluded that the degree of conversion of a photo-cured composite resin depended on its filler content.

Citation

Journal of Dental Research

Volume

81

Issue

Sp.

Pub Type

Journals

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Keywords

fluorescence monitoring system

Citation

Komatsu, K. , Wang, F. and Nemoto, K. (2002), Novel Fluorescence Method for Cure Monitoring of Photo-Cured Composites, Journal of Dental Research, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=851954 (Accessed April 18, 2024)