Effects of quaternary ammonium-methacrylates on the mechanical properties of unfilled resins

Objectives: Adding antimicrobial/anti-MMP quaternary ammonium methacrylates (QAMs) to comonomer blends should not weaken the mechanical properties of dental resins. This work evaluated the degree conversion and mechanical properties of BisGMA/TEGDMA/HEMA (60:30:10) containing 0-15 mass% QAMs A-E (A:2-acryloxyethyltrimethyl ammonium chloride; B:[3-(methacryloylamino)propyl]trimethylammonium chloride; C:[2-(methacryloxy)ethyl] trimethyl ammonium chloride; D:diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride; E:2-(methacryloyloxy) ethyltrimethyl ammonium methyl sulfate. Methods: Unfilled resins with and without QAM were placed on ATR-FTIR and light-polymerized for 20 s in a thin film t 30°C. Unfilled resin beams were casted from square hollow glass tubings. Half of the beams were tested after 3 days of drying (control); the other half were tested wet after 3 days of water storage. Results: Addition of QAMs in control resins significantly increased conversion 600s after light termination, with the exception of 5% MAPTAC (p<0.05). Increase of QAM content within a formulation significantly increased conversion. Control beams gave dry Young's moduli of ~700 MPa. Addition of 5, 10 or 15 mass% QAMs produced significant reductions in dry Young's moduli except for 5% B or C. 15 mass% A, B and C lowered the wet Young's moduli of the resin beams by more than 30%. The ultimate tensile stress (UTS) of control dry resin was 89±11 MPa. Addition of 5-10 mass% QAMs had no adverse effect on the dry UTS. After water storage, the UTS of all resin blends fell significantly (p<0.05), especially when 15 wt% QAMs was significantly higher at 1.02±0.06 (p<0.05). KIC of dry beams varied from 0.85±0.08 at 5% QAMs to 15% QAMs. Significance: Addition of 10% QAMs increased the degree of conversion of unfilled resins, but lowered wet toughness and UTS; addition of 15% QAMs lowered the mechanical properties of wet resins below acceptable levels.