Dental Materials Assis. Prof. Dr.

Ibrahim Alfahdawi
Lec. 3
Setting Characteristics
The setting process begins rapidly after mixing the powder and water. The
first stage in the process is that the water becomes saturated with hemihydrate,
which has a solubility of around 0.8% at room temperature. The dissolved
hemihydrates is then rapidly converted to dehydrate which has a much lower
solubility of around 0.2%. Since the solubility limit of the dihydrate is
immediately exceeded, it begins to crystallize out of solution. The process
continues until most of the hemihydrate is converted to dihydrate. The crystals
of dihydrate are spherulitic inmnature and grow from specific sites called
nuclei of crystallization. These may be small particles of impurity, such as
unconverted gypsum crystals, within the hemihydrate powder. If a thin mix
of material is used, containing more water than that indicated in Table, the
formation of the supersaturated solution of dihydrate that is a precursor to
crystallization is delayed and the centres of nucleation are more widely
dispersed by the dilution effect. The set plaster is therefore less dense with
greater spaces between crystals leading to a significant reduction in strength.
The material should be used as soon as possible after mixing since its viscosity
increases to the stage where the material is unworkable within a few minutes.

Control of Setting Time:

Factors, which control the setting times of gypsum products, can be divided
into those controlled by manufacturers and those, controlled by the operator.
The manufacturer can control the concentration of nucleating agents in the
hemihydrate powder (fineness particles). A higher concentration of
nucleating agent, produced by ageing or from unconverted calcium sulphate
dihydrate, results in more rapid crystallization. Also, the manufacturers may
add chemical accelerators or retarders to dental stones. Potassium sulphate
is a commonly used accelerator which is thought to act by increasing the
solubility of the hemihydrate. Borax is the most widely used retarder, although
the mechanism by which it works is not clear. Small amount of gypsum

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Dental Materials Assis. Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Alfahdawi
(Impurities) added to the mixture act as nuclei of crystallization and fasten
the setting time. Factors under the control of the operator are temperature,
W/P ratio, temperature, humidity and mixing time. Surprisingly, temperature
variation has little effect on the setting times of gypsum products. Increasing
the temperature accelerates the crystallization formation and lead to decrease
setting time.

Setting Expansion

The maximum rate of expansion with the temperature will be

increased by crystal growth outward of nuclei of crystallization,
more formation of crystals push each other outward but they don't
deform each other, thus expansion will occur. The expansion of
mass can detected during change of gypsum from hemihydrates to
dehydrate.
Control of Setting Expansion
In order to produce an accurate model or die it is necessary to maintain the
setting expansion at as low a value as possible. Accelerators or retarders
which are added by manufacturers to dental stones in order to control the
setting time also have the effect of reducing the setting expansion and are
sometimes referred to as antiexpansion agents. The very low value of
expansion for some stones may be considered negligible in terms of its effect
on the accuracy of restorations or appliances, which are to be constructed.
Alterations in W/P ratio and mixing time have only a minimal effect on
setting expansion. The less w/p ratio and the longer mixing time within
practical limits, the greater is the setting expansion.
Strength
Cast gypsum is a brittle material and so is weaker in tension than in
compression. Materials with the highest compressive strengths are the most
brittle, and their tensile strengths are proportionally lower.
1. The effect of W/P ratio. In general, strength properties are inversely related
to W/P ratio and so to the total amount of inherent porosity.

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Dental Materials Assis. Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Alfahdawi
Therefore when maximum strength is required, a given material should be
mixed in as low W/P ratio as practicable. The limiting factor is the viscosity
of the mix, because it increases with decreasing W/P ratio and can become so
high that the ability to pour sound casts is prejudiced.
2. The effect of drying. Removal of all uncombined water from cast gypsum
by low-temperature drying approximately doubles strength properties, but
there is no strength increase until the last 2% of free water is removed. This
strength increase on drying is reversible; soaking a dry cast in water reduces
its strength to the original level. Two type of strength:
a. Wet strength (green strength) after 1h.
b. Dry strength after 24h.

3. The mixing. Increase mixing time lead to increase strength, but over mixing
lead to broken up of crystals formed and less crystalline interlocked result in
final products.

4. Vacuum. It reduce the porosity and increase strength.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Gypsum model and die materials have the advantages of being inexpensive
and easy to use. The accuracy and dimensional stability are good and they are
able to reproduce fi ne detail from the impression, providing precautions are
taken to prevent blowholes.
The mechanical properties are not ideal and the brittle nature of gypsum
occasionally leads to fracture – particularly through the teeth, which form the
weakest part of any model. Problems occasionally arise when gypsum model
and die materials are used in conjunction with alginate impression. The
surface of the model may remain relatively soft due to an apparent retarding
effect, which hydrocolloids have on the setting of gypsum products.

Disinfection of Gypsum Casts

To prevent cross-infection, the practice of disinfecting impressions is
becoming increasingly common. There are three types of disinfection:
a- Spray disinfection.
b- Immersion disinfection.

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Dental Materials Assis. Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Alfahdawi
c- Incorporation disinfection either powder or liquid.
However, prolonged immersion in disinfectant solutions can cause
unacceptably large dimensional changes in hydrocolloid and polyether
impressions. Moreover, during subsequent clinical procedures, casts or dies
can become reinfected with pathogenic organisms, which can then be
transferred to technical staff. As an alternative, the addition of disinfectants to
the mixing water when casts are poured has been investigated; 5% phenol and
2% glutaraldehyde have proved to be effective and did not adversely affect
the properties of the set material. However, both are known tissue irritants.
Dental stones that contain a disinfectant are available. Alternatively, casts and
dies may be treated by immersion in a disinfecting solution after each clinical
stage. Autoclave sterilization of casts has been suggested. Some loss of
strength and surface hardness and an increase in dimensions occur, but it is
claimed that under carefully controlled conditions the casts retain adequate
properties for ordinary laboratory use.