The aim of this work was to correlate the degree of conversion with residual monomer release and water absorption of 2,2-bis[4-(2-hydroxy-3-methacryloyloxypropoxy) phenyl]propane (BisGMA) and triethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) (TB copolymers) obtained by photopolymerization, using canforquinone/ethyl 4-dimethylaminobenzoate (CQ/EDB) photoinitiator. The monomer release from the copolymers was evaluated by immersion in ethanol/water and HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography) analysis. Water absorption from artificial saliva was determined by mass variation. The results show that the composition of the TB copolymers influences the polymerization kinetics, the amount of the released monomers, the degree of conversion and the amount of adsorbed water. A clear correlation can be found between these properties.
photopolymerization; degree of conversion; residual monomers; artificial saliva
