Comparison between a silorane-based composite and methacrylate-based composites: Shrinkage characteristics, thermal properties, gel point and vitrification point

A silorane-based composite was compared against methacrylate-based composites in terms of shrinkage characteristics, thermal properties, gel point, and vitrification point. Shrinkage strain was measured using a laser triangulation method. Shrinkage stress was measured using a stress analyzer. Heat flow during photopolymerization was measured using photo-DSC. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (p=0.05). Silorane exhibited significantly lower shrinkage strain than the methacrylate-based composites. It also presented the lowest stress values during light exposure, but the highest maximum stress rate after light exposure. It showed the highest heat flow rate, and it took the longest time to reach gel and vitrification points. Silorane demonstrated improved performance over the methacrylate-based composites with delayed gel and vitrification points as well as reduced shrinkage strain and stress. However, a high quantity of heat was liberated during the curing process, causing silorane to show significantly higher stress rate (p<0.05) than the methacrylate-based composites after light exposure.