Polyacid-modified composite (compomer) systems containing polymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone

The objective of this work was to develop polyacid-modified composite systems (compomers) suitable for dental restoratives zn which high molecular weight hydrophilic (co)polymers containing variable amounts of N-vinylpyrrolidone were incorporated in small amounts. It was expected that the added polymer would become part afa semi-IPN (interpenetrating network) after the polymerizable components were cured. These systems could absorb water relatively rapidly at the early stages and thus provided good fluoride release. The effect of the addition of the high molecular hydrophilic polymers of varying compositions on the rheological, mechanical and thermal properties of the compomer systems was also investigated. The polymeric additive, significantly improved the rheological characteristics and without having any deleterious effect on the mechanical properties. The coefficient of thermal expansion of the compomers matched move closely with that of tooth structure when the N-vinylpyrrolidone content of the polymeric additives was increased Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.