PHYSICAL PROPERTY EVALUATIONS OF PERFLUOROTRIETHYLENE GLYCOL DIMETHACRYLATE AS A POTENTIAL REACTIVE DILUENT IN DENTAL COMPOSITE RESINS

Perfluorotriethylene glycol dimethacrylate (FTEGDMA), a fluoro analog of triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA), was evaluated in dental composites. Curing, physical properties, and water sorption of FTEGDMA-ethoxylated bisphenol A dimethacrylate (BisEMA) and bisphenol A glycol dimethacrylate (BisGMA) - TEGDMA as well as TEGDMA - BisEMA blends were evaluated and compared. BisEMA and FTEGDMA viscosities were lower than BisGMA and TEGDMA. FTEGDMA has the lowest refractive index and contact angle on silanated or nonsilanated glass. Polymerization studies showed that FTEGDMA did not significantly alter the decrease of C˭C conversion of the various formulations. Further, the experimental FTEGDMA resins absorbed much less water than the control formulations.