Kinetic study of the photopolymerization of a bisphenol-A-bis(glycidylmethacrylate)/triethyleneglycol dimethacrylate system in hydroxyapatite-filled composites

Photocurable composites based on hydroxyapatite and quartz as fillers and a monomeric mixture of bisphenol-A-bis(glycidylmethaclylate)/triethyleneglyc ol dimethacrylate (40/60 wt%) as a matrix were prepared. Both fillers were also treated with 3-trimethoxysilylpropyl methacrylate, and the effectivene ss of the silane treatment was verified by FTIR spectroscopy. The kinetic study of the photopolymerization of the different composites wa s carried out at maximum filler content, and at variable and constant fille r contents. The differences found in the kinetic behaviour of the composite s are explained using the three-layer model for particulate composites (TLM PC) and the optical phenomenon that takes place by direct interaction of th e irradiation light with the filler particles. (C) 1999 Society of Chemical Industry.