IR study of the hardening and maturation of glass ionomer cement

The set reaction of glass ionorner cement has been investigated by means of IR spectra. It has been found that the band intensity around 1413 cm(-1) due to the vibration of polyacrylate salt increased with aging, and the shoulder band at 950 cm(-1) due to the stretching vibration of Si-OH still appeared during the periods studied. The results are consistent with that of mechanical determing nation of compressive strength, which suggested that the crosslink density increase resulting from the slow diffusion of Ca2+ and Al3+ is responsible for compressive strength increasing with aging, and forming and maturing of interface layer comprising of silica gel also have a significant effect on the properties of glass ionomer cements.