Elastomeric Impression

Materials
Polysulfide
Condensation Silicones
Addition Silicone
Polyether
 What are we using?
Polymers that can be converted to
Elastomers at room temperature by
being mixed with a suitable catalyst
 Compared To Hydrocolloids,
Elastomers Offer:
Stability in air after setting
Excellent detail reproduction
Higher tear strength
Ability to prepare dies other than that
of gypsum types
 Polysulfide Rubber Impression
Materials
Come as:

– Base
– Catalyst
Mixing time: 45 seconds
Polysulfides are presented in three
consistencies:
Light body
Regular body
Heavy body
 Some brand names
• Permlastic (Kerr)
• Coe-flex (GC-America)
• Omniflex (GC-America)
• Neo-plex (Heraeus Kulzer)
 Base is Composed of:
• 80% low m.wt. polymer with reactive
mercaptan groups –(--SH)
• 20% reinforcing agents as TiO2,
ZnSO4 or SiO2
 Catalyst
• Catalyst (accelerator) causes
oxidation of mercaptan groups
resulting in chain growth and cross-
linking.
• Most common: Lead dioxide (brown).
• Copper hydroxide (green) is more
pleasant but less accurate
 Setting Reaction of
Polysulfides
Mercaptan + Lead Dioxide
→Polysulfide + Water

increase in m. wt

elasticity
Polymerization:
Exothermic Reaction
Accelerated by Heat & Moisture
 Dimensional Changes in
Polysulfides
• Polysulfides shrink 0.25% in the first
24h
• Models should be poured promptly
(within 1 h)
Tray adhesive may affect unset
polysulfide
The solvent from the adhesive layer
should be allowed to evaporate prior
to loading of the impression trays
Polysulfide becomes stronger with
time
If tearing of polysulfide impression
occurs, second impression should be
left in the mouth longer to obtain a
higher tear strength
 Remember Please!
Allow impression to sit for 20 – 30
minutes before casting to allow for
ELASTIC RECOVERY
Properties of POLYSULFIDES
• Toxicity: Safe despite presence of PbO2
• Working time: 4 – 5 min (↓ with ↑ temp)
• Final setting time: 8 – 12 min from start
• Polymerization shrinkage: 0.25 – 0.40 % / 24h
• Flow of set material: 0.3 – 0.9 % in 15 min
Properties of POLYSULFIDES
• Permanent deformation: slightly
higher than hydrocolloids
• Flexibility: ↓ with ↑ consistency
• Tear strength: 22 lbs/inch2 (8 times
higher than alginate)
• Detail reproduction: Excellent
 Disadvantages of
Polysulfides
• Poor color & offensive
smell (sulfur)
• Staining of linen and
uniforms (Lead)
• Exhausting mixing
• Long setting time
• Shrinkage on setting
• Relatively high
permanent deformation
(visco-elastic)
 Silicone Rubber Impression
Materials
• Condensation Type
• Addition Type
 Condensation Silicones are
presented as:
• Activator Paste (or liquid)
• Base Paste or Putty
 Base Paste Composition
• Dimethyl Siloxane: moderately low
m.wt polymer with siloxane chain
backbone (-Si-O-Si-) and reactive –
OH gps
• Reinforcing agents (SiO2) to give
proper consistency and strength.
 Accelerator Composition
• Tin organic ester (Tin Octoate)
• Alkyl Silicate (Ortho-ethyl silicate)
Setting is by condensation & and
alcohol bi-product is released
 Setting Reaction
Dimethyl Siloxane + Ortho-ethyl
Silicate + Tin Octoate → Silicone
Rubber + Ethyl Alcohol
 Properties of Condensation
Silicones
Toxicity: Safe, Catalyst may cause skin
allergy
Working time: Shorter than polysulfide
Setting time: 6- 10 minutes
Viscosity: less than polysulfide (easier
to mix)
 Properties of Condensation
Silicones
Polymerization shrinkage: more than polysulfide (0.5 %)
– ↓ with ↑ filler content
– Occurs mostly in 1 h
st

Permanent deformation: Less than Polysulfides (higher cross-

linking)
 Properties of Condensation
Silicones
Flexibility: ↓ with ↑ viscosity
Flow after setting: Less than
polysulfide
Detail Reproduction: Excellent
Tear Strength: Lower than polysulfide
but higher than alginate
 ADDITION SILICONES
“Poly Vinyl Siloxane”
• Presented as:
- Light body
- Regular body
- Heavy body
- Putty
Light & regular bodies can be supplies
in a dual cartridge (auto mixing
system)
 Composition
• Base Paste (or • Reactor Paste (or
putty) putty)
composition; composition
1.Vinyl-terminal
1. Hydrogen- siloxane
containing 2. Chlorplatinic
siloxane acid catalyst
2. Reinforcing 3. Reinforcing
filler filler
 Setting Reaction
• Hydrogen-containing siloxane +
vinyl-terminal siloxane +
Chlorplatinic acid → polyvinyl
siloxane
If hydroxyl groups are present, a side
reaction occurs resulting in the release of
hydrogen that produces bubbles in models
prepared within the 1st hour

Inclusion of a hydrogen absorber such as

Palladium in the impression material
eliminates hydrogen evolution
 The issue of the gloves !
• Putties should not be mixed when
latex rubber gloves are worn.
• Wash hands thoroughly prior to hand
mixing
• Components in the rubber (NOT THE
POWDER) will retard setting by
poisoning the platinum catalyst
 Properties of Addition
Silicones
• Dimensional changes in 1st 24 h: -0.1 %
• Permanent deformation on removal: 0.2 % (lowest
of all impression Materials)
• % flow: lowest of all impression materials
• Hydrophobic (Some types have surfactants added
to paste)
• Putty displaces wash
 Properties of Addition
Silicones
• Superior dimensional accuracy
• Working time: 5 – 8 minutes
• Flexibility: LOWER than all other
materials except Polyether
• Tear strength: Moderate
 Polyether Impression
Material

Supplied as:

• Base, Catalyst and

thinner (Regular
body)
Or
• Light and heavy
bodies and catalyst
 Properties of Polyether
Impression Materials
• Working time: 2 minutes (the shortest)
• Setting time: 3- 5 minutes
• Flow: ↑ with ↑ shear stress (Thixotropic –
pseudo plastic ?)
• Permanent deformation: less than polysulfide
but more than addition silicone
• Modulus of elasticity: much higher than other
impression materials except for addition silicone
 Properties of Polyether
Impression Materials
• Greatest tendency for elastic behavior
• Flexibility: low (3 %) compared to polysulfide
(7%) and condensation silicone (5%)
• Tear strength: lower than others. 4 mm
thickness is required rather than 2 mm
• Dimensional changes: Lower than others
except addition silicone. Swells if stored in
water
• Catalyst can cause skin irritation