Improved mechanical properties of resin composites have been reported
to be a consequence of the addition of aldehyde to the resins. The obj
ective of the present study was to examine whether this improvement co
uld be attributed to an increased degree of conversion of double bonds
. For this purpose, propanal was added to monomer mixtures, which were
then made light-curing. The monomer mixtures were varied with respect
to monomer composition and content of propanal. The quantity of remai
ning double bonds was determined by means of transmission infrared spe
ctra of the resins recorded before and after wet or dry storage for on
e week. The addition of propanal resulted in a decrease in the quantit
y of remaining double bonds by as much as 89% as compared with the mix
tures without propanal. Negative correlations of statistical significa
nce were found between the content of propanal and quantity of remaini
ng double bonds in BISGMA:TEGDMA-based as well as in UEDMA:HEMA-based
resins for both modes of storage. Significant negative correlations we
re found between the quantity of remaining double bonds and the previo
usly determined mechanical properties.