AN ATTENUATED TOTAL REFLECTANCE STUDY OF DIFFERENT ALGINATE IMPRESSION MATERIALS USED IN DENTAL MEDICINE

Abstract

The aim of this study is to characterize and compare different alginate impression materials used in dental medicine. For this, we have prepared three different commercially available impression materials which have been characterized through the FTIR-ATR technique, thus highlighting rapidly and easily functionalized groups contained in these materials. This is possible as consequence of the absorption of electromagnetic radiation at certain frequencies that are associated with the vibrations specific to each type of chemical bond existing in the analyzed molecule. The materials used for this study were three impression materials commercially available (Kromopan and Alginor-ortho from Lascod, and Tropicalgin from Zhermack). For the spectral analysis a Bruker Vertex 70 spectrometer (Bruker Optics, Ettlingen, Germany) was used, and the spectra were obtained in the ATR (Attenuated Total Reflectance) mode, at room temperature in the range of 4000-600 cm^‒1 with a resolution of 4 cm^‒1. Spectral ranges results are shown for each material, as well as the deconvoluted spectra for the most representative ranges. The alginate composition for each of the materials has been calculated and based on the obtained results we can indicate the use of these materials for the impression step in indirect restorations, as study models and casts and for fabrication of primary casts.