Combinatorial investigation of structure-properties relationships and microcosmic curing mechanism of dental adhesives functional monomers

Pyromellitic dimethacrylate (PMDM), a dental adhesive functional monomer has been investigated by FTIR and two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy (2D-IR) methods. With the comparison of the curing processes among three samples (Base-Resin, PMDM and monomethacrylate monomer 4-methacryloxyethyl trimellitic anhydride (4-META)), better properties and faster curing of newly used PMDM has been found. Assignments of Base-Resin, PMDM and 4-META in the mid-infrared (MIR) and near-infrared (NIR) regions are ascertained detailedly. According to the high resolution of 2D-NIR maps, assignments of the dental adhesive functional monomers are further validated and the mechanism of the curing process has been accurately concluded as well; similar 2D-NIR spectra of all three samples show the same transformation process from the double-bonds to the single-bonds during visible-light curing.