Development of dental resinous systems composed of bisphenol a ethoxylated dimethacrylate and three novel methacrylate monomers: Synthesis and characterization

Three novel monomers with a methacrylate unit, different chain lengths, and functional groups were synthesized and proposed as possible diluent monomers in dental resinous systems containing bisphenol A ethoxylated dimethacrylate (BisEMA) aiming at their use in dental resin mixtures. The monomers were mixed with BisEMA and photopolymerized in the presence of a photoinitiator system. The unfilled formulations were evaluated regarding their degree of conversion, thermal properties, Vickers microhardness, water sorption, water solubility, and surface morphology. The monomers presented a high conversion degree compared to control groups and have affected the glass transition temperature of the samples. Their hardness values were similar to or higher than the value found for the control group. The specimens evaluated presented a homogeneous matrix and stability throughout the water sorption and solubility tests. Considering their simplicity and effective application in synthesis, as well as the results obtained for the polymerized formulation groups, the new monomers presented here represent promising photocurable dental monomers. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013