Publication: Synthesis and mechanical properties of a modified low-shrinkage diacrylated polyethylene glycol composite resin
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Date
2025-07
Authors
Nongman, Abdul Fattah
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Abstract
This study investigates the synthesis, characterisation, and application potential of low-shrinkage diacrylated polyethylene glycol (DAPEG)-based (also known as PEGDA – polyethylene glycol diacrylate) dental composites, focusing on the effects of molecular weight and silica filler loading on mechanical, thermal, and dimensional properties. Silica was synthesised via the sol-gel process from tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) was confirmed with Fourier Transform Infrared. DAPEG monomers were synthesised from polyethylene glycol and acryloyl chloride, verified by FTIR and nuclear magnetic resonance, revealing a clear influence of molecular weight on thermal stability. DAPEG 400 with lower molecular weight shows a lower density and viscosity, hence improving the curing behaviour. In addition, DAPEG 400 demonstrated good depth of cure, high degree of conversion, gel content, and also ease of handling compared to higher molecular weight DAPEGs. Higher molecular weight DAPEG 4000 exhibited enhanced crystallinity and thermal stability. DAPEG 400 composites with optimal silica filler loading significantly increased mechanical properties (flexural and compressive strength) up to 10.27 MPa and 41.42 MPa, water resistance, and dimensional stability, plus lower polymerisation shrinkage. In this work, DAPEG 400 composite with 60 % silica loading demonstrated the lowest polymerisation shrinkage of 1.58 %, much lower than other dental composite resins available in the market.