study of thermal analysis and infrared spectroscopy on alginate materials

Alginate hydrocolloids were the first elastic impression materials introduced in the dental practice after the agar. This study was made in order to investigate the thermal behaviour of alginate materials when heated to temperatures above that of the oral conditions. Infrared spectroscopy was also applied to confirm the results. Thermal analysis showed occurrences of certain phase transitions when the material was heated from room temperature to 150°C. Dimensional inaccuracy was also detected in the form of gelation contraction especially during the first fifth and sixth hours of setting. In infrared spectra were the same under the tested heated conditions for all the studied materials