Abstract
Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the viscoelastic properties related to handling characteristics of composite resins, Methods: A custom designed vertical oscillation rheometer (VOR) was used for rheological measurements of composites. The VOR consists of three parts: (1) a measuring unit, (2) a deformation induction unit and (3) a force detecting unit, Two medium viscous composites, Z100 and Z250 and two packable composites, P60 and SureFil were tested. The viscoelastic material function, including complex modulus $E^{*}$ and phase angle ${\delta}$, were measured. A dynamic oscillatory test was used to evaluate the storage modulus (E'), loss modulus (E") and loss tangent ($tan{\delta}$) of the composites as a function of frequency ($\omega$) from 0.1 to 20 Hz at $23^{\circ}C$. Results: The E' and E" increased with increasing frequency and showed differences in magnitude between brands. The $E^{*}s$ of composites at ${\omega}{\;}={\;}2{\;}Hz$, normalized to that of Z100, were 2.16 (Z250), 4,80 (P60) and 25.21 (SureFil). The magnitudes and patterns of the change of $tan{\delta}$ of composites with increasing frequency were significantly different between brands. The relationships between the complex modulus $E^{*}$, the phase angle ${\delta}$ and the frequency \omega were represented by frequency domain phasor form, $E^{*}{\;}(\omega){\;}={\;}E^{*}e^{i{\delta}}{\;}={\;}E^{*}{\angle}{\delta}$. Conclusions: The viscoelasticity of composites that influences handling characteristics is significant different between brands, The VOR is a relatively simple device for dynamic, mechanical analysis of high viscous dental composites. The locus of frequency domain phasor plots in a complex plane is a valuable method of representing the viscoelastic properties of composites.
