A Novel Polyurethane-based Root Canal–obturation Material and Urethane Acrylate–based Root Canal Sealer—Part I: Synthesis and Evaluation of Mechanical and Thermal Properties

Hsieh, Kuo-Huang; Liao, Ken-Hsuan; Lai, Eddie Hsiang-Hua; Lee, Bor-Shiunn; Lee, Chung-Yi; Lin, Chun-Pin

doi:10.1016/j.joen.2007.12.006

« Previous Next »Journal of Endodontics
Volume 34, Issue 3 , Pages 303-305, March 2008

A Novel Polyurethane-based Root Canal–obturation Material and Urethane Acrylate–based Root Canal Sealer—Part I: Synthesis and Evaluation of Mechanical and Thermal Properties

Kuo-Huang Hsieh, BS, MS, PhD
- Institute of Polymer Science and Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
Ken-Hsuan Liao, BS, MS
- Institute of Polymer Science and Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
Eddie Hsiang-Hua Lai
- School of Dentistry and Graduate Institute of Clinical Dentistry, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University and National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Bor-Shiunn Lee, DDS, MS, PhD
- School of Dentistry and Graduate Institute of Clinical Dentistry, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University and National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chung-Yi Lee, DDS, MS
- School of Dentistry and Graduate Institute of Clinical Dentistry, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University and National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chun-Pin Lin, DDS, MS, PhD
- Institute of Polymer Science and Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Dentistry and Graduate Institute of Clinical Dentistry, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University and National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
- Address requests for reprints to Dr Chun-Pin Lin, School of Dentistry and Graduate Institute of Clinical Dentistry, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Chang-Te Street, Taipei 10016, Taiwan.

Abstract

Resilon (RealSeal; SybronEndo, Orange, CA) has been developed as an alternative to gutta percha, but its advantages over gutta percha remain controversial. In this study, we developed a novel zinc oxide/thermoplastic polyurethane (ZnO/TPU) composite root canal–filling material and a visible-light curable urethane-acrylate/tripropylene glycol diacrylate (UA/TPGDA) root canal sealer. The mechanical and thermal properties of the ZnO/TPU composite were compared with those of gutta percha and Resilon. Results showed that the tensile strength and elastic modulus of the ZnO/TPU composite were markedly higher than those of gutta percha and Resilon. The melting points of all three materials were similar; however, the enthalpy change and specific heat of ZnO/TPU (9.4 J/g, 0.7 J/g°C) were close to those of gutta percha (10.9 J/g, 0.7 J/g°C) but lower than those of Resilon (28.9 J/g, 1.3 J/g°C). The results indicate that ZnO/TPU composite exhibits better mechanical strength than Resilon, and its combination with UA/TPGDA sealer has excellent potential to be used as a root canal–filling material.

Key Words: Mechanical property, root canal obturation, thermal property, zinc oxide/thermoplastic polyurethane composite