Water sorption of light–cured composites

Abstract

The aim of the present research was to study the percentage water sorption and solubility of Esthet composite resin based on an ethoxylated bisphenol A glycol dimeth-acrylate (Bis-EMA) and Heliomolar composite resin based on bisphenol A glycol dimethacrylate (Bis-GMA). Six specimens were prepared for each material using aluminum disc 15 mm in diameter and 1 mm in thickness between two glass slides; then they were light cured for 80 seconds on each side. Percentage water sorption and solubility were measured after one week and one month. The results showed that water so-rption after 1 week for Esthet composite and Heliomolar composite were 0.433 and 1.12, respectively and solubility were 0.074 and 1.066, respectively; while water sorption after 1 month were 0.517 and 2.57, respectively and solubility were 0.176 and 2.689, respectively. It could be concluded that the percentage sorption and solubility of composite based on Bis-EMA were significantly lower than that based on Bis-GMA.