Elastomeric Impression Materials

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 Elastomeric impression
materials
• Liquid polymers when mixed with a suitable
catalyst are converted into solid rubber at room
temperature.

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 Terminology:

• Polymerization: chemical reaction that

transforms small molecules into large polymer
chains.
• Addition reaction: Polymerization reaction in
which each polymer chain grows to maximum
length in sequence and there is no by-product.
• Condensation reaction: Polymerization reaction
in which the polymer chains all grow
simultaneously and by-product is formed.
• Cross-linking: the reaction that links or joins
polymer chain to form a network structure.
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Types of Elastomeric impression Materials
I)According to Chemistry

Polysulphide

Polyether

Silicone

Additional polymerizing silicone

Condensation polymerizing silicone.

 The elastomeric impression materials are available in a
range of viscosities, depending on the amount of filler
that is incorporated
Light body or syringe consistency.
Medium or regular body.
Heavy body or tray consistency.
Very heavy or putty consistency
SUPPLIED AS :-
• All elastomers –two paste systems(base and catalyst)
• Putty consistency – supplied in jars

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 USES :-
1-Impressions of prepared teeth for fixed partial dentures.
2- Impression for removable partial dentures.
3- Impression of edentulous mouth for complete dentures.
4- Polyether is used for border molding of special tray.
5- For bite registration.

6- Silicon duplicating material is used for making refractory cast.

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 Polysulfide
(Synonyms : Mercaptan, Thiokol rubber)
• First elastomeric impression to be introduced
• Available in low, medium and high consistencies
 Composition

Polysulfide polymer - 80 to 85%

Fillers - 16 to 18% BASE

PASTE
Titanium dioxide, zinc sulfate, copper carbonate or
silica

Lead dioxide; 60 to 68%

Dibutyl phthalate (30- 35 %)
Sulfur. (3 %).
Other substances like (deodorant, and Catalyst PASTE
magnesium stearate (retarder)
(2 %)..
 Setting reaction
Chain lengthening by oxidation of terminal 
–SH groups

Cross linking by oxidation of pendant –SH 

groups

Lead Polysulfide water

Polysulfide
dioxide polymer
∆ 3 to 4°C
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 Properties
• Setting time: 12 min
• Good flexibility
• High tear strength
• Hydrophobic

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• It has highest permanent deformation .among the
elastomers, so pouring of the cast should be delayed
by half an hour. Further delay is avoided to minimize
curing shrinkage, and shrinkage from loss of by-
product (water).
• Require custom tray. The tray is painted with
adhesive.

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 DISADVANTAGES

Unpleasant odor

High shrinkage on setting.

High amount of effort required for

mixing.

Stains clothing & messy to work with

High permanent deformation.

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 Polyether Rubber
Impression Material
 Polyether
• Introduced in Germany in late 1967s
• Good mechanical properties and dimensional
stability

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 Poly ether polymer

Fillers; colloidal silica • Base paste

Glycoether or phthalate; plasticizer

Alkyl – aromatic sulfonate ester; cross

linking agent •Accelerator paste
Fillers and plasticizers
Polyether Sulfonate ester Cross linked
rubber

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1.Pleasant odor and test.
2.The sulphonic ester may cause skin reaction..
direct skin contact should be avoided.
3.It is extremely stiff (flexibility 3 %). Its
hardness is higher than polysulfide and
increase with time. Care should be taken while
separation of cast from impression to void any
breakage.

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4-Setting time is around (3minutes), heat decrease setting
time.
5-Dimensional stability is very good. Polymerizing
shrinkage is low. The permanent deformation is low (1-2
%). The impression should not be stored in water or in
humid climate, because polyether absorb water and can
change dimension.
6-The tear strength is good
7-It is hydrophilic, so moisture in the impression field is
not so critical. It has the best compatibility with stone.

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It is expensive

The working time was

short.

The material was very stiff.

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Silicones
 Condensation Silicone
• this was the earlier of the two silicone impression
materials. It is also known as conventional silicone.
Available as:
1- Light body.
2- Putty consistency.
• Application
Condensation silicon impression materials are
commonly used for crown and bridge and
occasionally for partial denture.

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 Polydimethyl siloxane
Colloidal silica or metal oxide(filler)
35-75% BASE
PASTE
Color pigments

Ortho ethyl silicate-cross linking agent

Stannous octoate - catalyst Catalyst PASTE
 Stannous

Dimethyl Orthoethyl octate Silicone

siloxane silicate rubber

Ethyl
alcohol ∆ 1°

Cross linkage between Orthoethyl silicate and the terminal hydroxyl group of Dimethylsiloxane
to form a 3 Dimensional network
 properties
• Pleasant color and odor.
Setting time: 6-8 min
• The ethyl alcohol formed evaporates gradually
leading to shrinkage & instability. So a
condensation silicone should be poured as
soon as possible after removal

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• Excellent reproduction of surface details.
• The tear strength is lower than polysulfide.
It is stiffer and harder than polysulfide, care
should be taken while removing the stone cast
from the impression to avoid any breakage.

• It is hydrophobic.
• Direct skin contact should be avoided to prevent
any allergic reactions.
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 Addition silicone 1975
Also known as polyvinyl siloxane
Has better properties than condensation silicones

• Available in 4
consistencies
– Light body
– Medium body
– Heavy body
– Putty

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 Poly methyl hydrogen siloxane

Other siloxane prepolymers •Base paste

Fillers-

Divinyl polysiloxane
- Other siloxane prepolymers
Platinum salt: Catalyst •Catalyst paste
(Palladium (Hydrogen absorber)
- Retarders
- Fillers
 Platinum salt

Vinyl Hydroge
n
Silicone
siloxane siloxane rubber

The base polymer is terminated with vinyl groups and is cross linked with hydride
groups
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 Properties
1- Pleasant color and odor.
2- Direct skin contact should be avoided to prevent any allergic
reactions.
3- Excellent reproduction of surface details.
4- Setting time is 5-9 minutes.
5- It has the best dimensional stability among the elastomers. It has
low polymerizing shrinkage, and the lowest permanent deformation
(0.05-0.3 %). The cast pouring should be delayed by 1-2 hours; because
of hydrogen gas is liberated during polymerization, air bubbles will
result.
6- It hydrophobic, so similar care should be taken while making the
impression and pouring the wet stone. Some manufactures add a
surfactant (detergent) to make it more hydrophilic.
7- It has low flexibility and it harder than polysulfide; care should be
taken while removing the stone cast from the impression to avoid any
breakage.

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• 8-Sulfur contamination from natural latex
gloves inhibits the setting of addition silicone.
Prevention :-
• - Use vinyl or nitrile gloves to eliminate the
problem

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• Tray used: spaced special tray.
• Viscosity used: regular body only.
Method
The paste is mixed and material is loaded onto the tray, the tray
with material is seated over the impression area, the material is
allowed to set.

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Only one mix is
•spaced special tray.
• Viscosity used: regular body only.
Method
The paste is mixed and material is loaded onto the tray, the tray
with material is seated over the impression area, the material is
allowed to set.
2-Double mix technique-

• Tray used: spaced special tray.

• Viscosity used: (a) heavy body and (b) light body.

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PUTTY -WASH TECHNIQUE
 Comparisons

POLYSULFIDE Vs SILICONE Vs POLYETHER

Addition
silicones Polysulfides
-0.17% -0.45%

Polyether Condensation
silicones
-0.24%
-0.60%
Addition Polyether
silicones

Condensation Polysulfides
silicones
 Addition
Polysulfides silicones

Condensation Polyether
silicones
Addition Polyether
silicones

Condensation Polysulfides
silicones
Detail Reproduction:
All reproduce 0.02mm wide line except the very high viscosity 0.075mm line.

 Compatible with gypsum.

Properties
Setting time
Polysulphide: longest S.T 7-10 min.
 Condensation silicone 6-8 min.
 Addition silicone 6-8 min.
 Polyethers 3-4.5 min.
 Factors affecting working -
setting time

Temperature
Working and
Humidity
setting time

Viscosity