Transparent Silicone Elastomer Dental Impression Composition
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dental impression materials are opaque due to reinforcing fillers and additives, making it difficult for dentists to visually confirm positioning and air bubble removal, and their viscosity issues complicate manual dispensing.
Innovation Solution
A silicone elastomer composition without reinforcing fillers, using a combination of alkenyl group-containing organopolysiloxanes of differing molecular weights to achieve suitable flowability and transparency, ensuring mechanical strength and transparency in both uncured and cured states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If reinforcing fillers such as silica are added to the base polymer, then rubber strength is improved, but transparency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes reinforcing fillers such as silica from the composition. By eliminating these opaque fillers, the material achieves high transparency while maintaining sufficient mechanical strength through the optimized polymer network structure formed by the specific organopolysiloxane composition.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters by specifying precise ranges for different organopolysiloxane components (Component A: 10-100 parts, Component B: 10-50 parts, Component C: 5-30 parts). This parameter optimization allows the material to achieve both adequate strength without fillers and high transparency.
2Ease of operation
If viscosity is reduced to improve flowability, then ease of operation is improved, but mechanical strength deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes viscosity parameters by combining organopolysiloxanes of different molecular weights and viscosities. Component A provides base viscosity control, while Components B and C adjust the overall flow characteristics. This parameter balancing achieves suitable flowability for dental impressions while maintaining cured mechanical strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite polymer system combining three different organopolysiloxane components with distinct molecular weight ranges and viscosity characteristics. This composite structure allows the uncured material to have appropriate flowability while the cured network achieves sufficient mechanical strength.
3Strength
If viscosity is increased to improve structural stability, then strength is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention adjusts viscosity parameters within an optimal range (100-500 cP at 25°C) by controlling the ratios of Components A, B, and C. This parameter optimization ensures the material is thick enough to maintain structural stability but thin enough for easy manual dispensing from cartridges.
4Adaptability or versatility
If additives are added to adjust hardness and flowability, then adaptability is improved, but compatibility deteriorates causing opacity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes traditional plasticizer additives that cause compatibility issues and opacity. Instead, it uses the inherent viscosity and molecular weight characteristics of the organopolysiloxane components themselves to adjust hardness and flowability, maintaining full compatibility and transparency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The composition provides high transparency, allowing visual confirmation during application, suitable viscosity for easy handling, and excellent mechanical strength, enhancing the precision and efficiency of dental impressions.
Implementation Method 1
a silicone elastomer composition which ensures a sufficient strength as a dental impression material and has a flowability suitable for taking a dental impression can be obtained by using in combination a plurality of alkenyl group-containing organopolysiloxanes of differing molecular weights
Data Source
AI summary
A silicone elastomer composition adapted for use as a dental impression material includes (A) a high-viscosity alkenyl group-containing organopolysiloxane, (B) a low-viscosity alkenyl group-containing organopolysiloxane, (C) a gum-like alkenyl group-containing organopolysiloxane, (D) a silicone resin, (E) an organohydrogenpolysiloxane, (F) a hydrosilylation catalyst and (G) a filler, and has a viscosity at 23°C of at least 100 Pa·s and less than 300 Pa·s. The composition has a high transparency and a flowability suitable for taking dental impressions, and provides a sufficient strength when cured.