polymers, composites,

lecture 6 - unfinished

what are the different types of dental materials 

1. composites - contains two or more of the three previous families 

2. ceramics - compounds of metals and non-metals 

3. polymers - molecules composed of a series of monomers 

4. metals 

state the properties of polymers (7)

• low density 

• liquid or solid at room temp 

• low/mid stiffness and hardness but easily malleable 

• relatively bad heat and corrosion resistance 

• relatively bad electric and heat conduction

• diverse optical properties 

• viscoelasticity 

describe the structure of polymers - including their bonds

• covalent bonds between monomers in the chain and weaker secondary bonds between chains

• semi-crystalline or amorphous

what’s the applications of polymers 

• fillings 

• dentures 

• impression materials 

heteropolymer and homopolymer meanings

heteropolymer - polymer made of two or more different types of monomers

homopolymer - polymer made of one single type of monomer

how are polymers synthesized (info in bracket doesn’t need to be studied just remembered)

addition (Monomers add together directly — no by-products formed. Usually happens with double bonds (C=C) opening up and linking together. )

condensation - (Monomers join by eliminating a small molecule (like H₂O, HCl, or methanol). Usually happens between two different functional groups (like –COOH and –OH).