Empirical study of alginate impression materials by customized proportioning system

Abstract

PURPOSEAlginate mixers available in the market do not have the automatic proportioning unit. In this study, an automatic proportioning unit for the alginate mixer and controller software were designed and produced for a new automatic proportioning unit. With this device, it was ensured that proportioning operation could arrange weight-based alginate impression materials.MATERIALS AND METHODSThe variation of coefficient in the tested groups was compared with the manual proportioning. Compression tension and tear tests were conducted to determine the mechanical properties of alginate impression materials. The experimental data were statistically analyzed using one way ANOVA and Tukey test at the 0.05 level of significance.RESULTSNo statistically significant differences in modulus of elastisity (P>0.3), tensional/compresional strength (P>0.3), resilience (P>0.2), strain in failure (P>0.4), and tear energy (P>0.7) of alginate impression materials were seen. However, a decrease in the standard deviation of tested groups was observed when the customized machine was used. To verify the efficiency of the system, powder and powder/water mixing were weighed and significant decrease was observed.CONCLUSIONIt was possible to obtain more mechanically stable alginate impression materials by using the custom-made proportioning unit.

A Promising Potential of Brown Algae Sargassum polycystum as Irreversible Hydrocolloid Impression Material

“…Higher stirring intensity and rate will hasten the setting time and vice versa. However, prolonged stirring may break up the woven calcium alginate gel and reduce its strength [30]. Manual stirring of alginate material is usually carried out using a figure-eight movement at a fast speed while pressing the mixture against the walls of a rubber bowl.…”