Kinetics of Conversion of Two Dual-cured Adhesive Systems

The aim of this study was to evaluate the kinetics of conversion of Scotchbond Multi-purpose Plus (3M ESPE, St Paul, MN) and Prime&Bond NT (Dentsply De Trey, Konstanz, Germany) used in light-cured, self-cured, or dual-cured versions. The adhesive systems were used in the light-cured version (without the use of chemical initiator) or mixed with its respective chemical initiator either with light activation (dual-cured) or not (self-cured). The degree of conversion (DC) was monitored as a function of time during 5 minutes with a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer equipped with an attenuated total reflectance device. Light-cured and dual-cured modes of Scotchbond Multi-purpose Plus presented the highest DC at 5 minutes. The addition of the self-cure activator (dual-cured mode) to Prime&Bond NT reduced the DC. For the self-cured versions, only the Scotchbond Multi-purpose Plus presented any polymerization reaction at 5 minutes. For the two bonding systems tested, it appears that light curing of the adhesive is important in order to reach a high DC in the first moments after the bonding procedure.