ZINC

POLYCARBOXYLAT
E CEMENT
 Formulated by D.C Smith in 1962.
 The first adhesive luting cement, bond to tooth
structure and metal chemically
 More biocompatible than Zinc phosphate cement
 Not used for restoration purpose because this cement is
opaque
 ADA no – 61
 Widely used as thermal insulating base
 Cementation of inlays, crowns, bridges, porcelain
restorations & Orthodontic bands.

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Alternative names –
1. Zinc poly C
2. Zinc poly F
3. Zinc Polyacrylate
cement
Special properties
 Direct bonding with the tooth structure –
REAL CEMENT ііі
 Excellent biocompatibility
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 Dispensed as powder &
liquid system with a
measuring scoop &
paper pad
 Also as a single
component system –
powder which can be
mixed with distilled
water
Composition
Powder contains :-
[same as zinc phosphate cement ]

 Zinc oxide (ZnO) - 80% Reactive ingredient

 Magnesium
oxide – 10% Decreases calcination
( MgO) temp
 Stannous fluoride - 4-5% Modifies the S.T,
improves
manipulative
properties, increases
the
strength, impart
 Sio2 + Al2O3 - 2-8% Reinforcing filler ,
anticariogenic property
increases the
initially
strength
 Liquid contains :-
• Liquid is an aqueous solution of Polyacrylic acid
- Molecular wt 30,000-50,000.
• Copolymer of acrylic acid with other carboxylic
acid, such as itaconic acid, Tartaric acid added
to reduce the high viscosities.
 Water - 32- 42% by wt

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Water settable – anhydrous polycarboxylate cement

 Single component system

 Polyacrylic aci d - eeze dried solid
form (powder) frended with conventional
powder bl
 Powder is mixed with distilled water, Polyacrylic
acid dissolves & reacts in the same manner
 No much difference or improvement in the
properties, same as that of conventional cement
 Setting reaction :-

ZnO + Polyacrylic acid Zinc

Polyacrylate

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 Acid – base reaction
 When powder is mixed with polyacrylic
acid, surface dissolution of the powder
particle occurs & releases Zn, Mg, Sn ions
 The Zn ++ cation cross – link the polymer
chain through COO- groups forming a set
matrix zinc Polyacrylate
Set cement :-
 Consist of zinc – Polyacrylate matrix in which
unreacted ZnO particles dispersed in
providing the cement its opacity.
Structure of set cement

Unreacted zinc
oxide particles

Matrix of
Polyacrylate
Bonding to tooth enamel & dentin

 Forms a chemical adhesion.

 Polyacrylic acid bonds to Ca ions on the surface
of enamel & dentin.
 Bond to enamel is greater than that to dentin ,
because the enamel has a higher
concentration of calcium.
Bonding to tooth enamel

 When the cement mix is placed on tooth

enamel, chemical bonding occurs between
the carboxyl group of the Polyacrylic acid
with the Ca2+ of the enamel , forming a
Calcium Polyacrylate , through ionic
bonding
 Note

 Polycarboxylate cements bonds

Chemically to enamel & dentin.
Properties :-
Biological properties :-
 Excellent biocompatibility with the pulp
 Lack of postoperative sensitivity
 PH of this cement is less acidic than that of zinc
phosphate cement
 Initial acidity is very low 1.7
 PH of mix rises rapidly from 3-6 as setting reaction
proceeds
Time (min) PH( zinc polycarboxylate)
2 3.4
5 3.9
10 4.4
1hr 5.1
1 day 5.9
Causes for mildness of zinc polycarboxylate
cement towards pulp :-

1. Polyacrylic acid is a weak acid /mild acid compared

with phosphoric acid.
2. Rapid rise of PH of poly acrylic acid towards
neutrality than ZnPo4 cement.
3. Larger size of Polyacrylic acid molecule compared
with H3Po4 acid, may limit its diffusion through the
dentinal tubules.
4. Attraction towards protein ,may limit its diffusion
through the dentinal tubules or complexes
formed may block exposed dentinal tubule.
 Shows anticariogenic property.
Rheological property :-
W.T & S.T :-
 W.T – 2.5 min (shorter than ZnPO4 Cement, 5min)
 W.T can be increased by mixing on the cool glass slab &
by refrigerating the powder but liquid should not be
chilled as this encourages gelation

 S.T :–
 According to ADA No- 61 , cement should have
S.T < 9 min
 S.T for Commercial product
Luting 6-9 min
Base 3-5 min
 • Film thickness:-
 Much more viscous than zinc phosphate cement
 Pseudoplastic mix & it undergoes thinning at an
increased shear rate. Clinically this means that rapid
spatulation & fast seating will reduces the viscosity of
the cement & produces a film thickness of 25µm
 According to ADA No - 61 for zinc Polycarboxylate
cement the maxi film thickness should be < 25 µm.
Commercial product have 21-35 µm
Mechanical properties :-
 Compressive strength – 55 -85 Mpa (luting)
 - 70-95 Mpa (base)
 T.S – 8-12 Mpa (Luting)
 9-14 Mpa (base)
 MOE – 5-6 Gpa (Luting)
 4-5 Gpa (base)
Adhesion/Bond strength :-
 Bonding to tooth structure
 Chemical adhesion
 The polyacrylic
acid bonds to
calcium ion on the
 surface of enamel
or dentinthan that of dentin
greater
Bond strength
because enameltohas
enamel is
higher
concentration of Calcium
 Bond strength to enamel
(3.43-13.1 Mpa ) is greater
than that of dentin ( 2.07
Mpa)
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 Cement also bonds chemically to stainless steel,
amalgam, Cr-Co alloys
 For zinc polycarboxylate cement bond failure
occurs at cement- metal interface
 So retention of noble metal to cement can be
enhanced by carefully abrading the metal surface
using a stone or sandblasted with alumina abrasive
 Note

Bond strength of Polycarboxylate cement to

enamel & dentin
 3.43-13.1 Mpa
 2.07 Mpa
 Bond strength of enamel is greater than that
of dentin
Solubility :-
 According to ADA No- 61 , solubility &
disintegration in distilled water at the end of 24 hr
should be <0.2% by wt
 solubility for commercial product
Luting - 0.06%
Base – 0.2 %
 Aesthetics :-
 Can not be used as anterior restorative material as
set cement is opaque due to unreacted ZnO
particles
Thermal properties :-

 Good thermal insulating material

 Can be used as thermal insulating base
material
PROPORTIONING
MANIPULATION
 Instruments :- Glass slab, or paper pad
stainless steel or plastic spatula

 P/L ratio – 1.5 gm /ml for luting

 P/L ratio – 2.3 gm /ml for base

 Proportioning :- Powder is divided into 1 bulk

& 2 small increments .Take 2 or 3 drops of
liquid as suggested

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 Mixing is initiated by addition of bulk increment ,
followed by smaller increment

 Mixing is done by tapping, stropping , folding or

overlapping methods

 M.T – 30 sec (Cooling the glass slab & powder provides

longer W.T )

 A proper mix of cement is thicker in appearance but has

a shiny glossy appearance which indicates a sufficient
number of free carboxylic acid groups are still available
to bond with the tooth structure.
Cement should be
used in this stage, any
delay causes the loss
of glossiness &
formation of cob
webbing or tackiness,
such mix should be
discarded

Cob
webbing
 For Luting consistency – the mix should form a
thin strand when pulled up with spatula

 For base – hook

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Precautions taken during manipulation :-

 Liquid should not be stored in a refrigerator

because liquid thickens or lead to gel formation
 Required amount of powder is taken first, and
liquid should be dispensed just before mixing
because water will be lost due to evaporation &
subsequently increases the viscosity of the liquid
 Cementation done before cement loses its
glossy appearance or before starting of cob
webbing
 Tooth surface & casting surface should be clean
& dry in order to achieve a good bonding.
Tooth
surface should be cleaned by 10% polyacrylic or
maleic acid solution for 10-15 sec followed by
 washing & drying.
Casting surface must be made rough for better
retention by sand blasting the cast metal
appliances.
Advantages

• Chemical adhesion to enamel & dentin.

• Excellent biocompatibility with the pulp
• Less pulpal irritation.
• Pseudoplastic in nature ic freshly mixed cement
exhibit shear thinning
• Good thermal insulating material
• Easy to manipulate
• Strength, solubility & film thickness are
comparable to Zn phosphate cement.
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Disadvantages

• Short M.T & W.T.

• Anticariogenic property is not so as good as GIC &
silicate cement, as fluoride ion can not leach out easily
• Accurate proportioning required for optimum
properties
• Clean & dry surfaces are required for good adhesion
•
Low C.S than zinc phosphate cement
•
Soluble in oral fluids
•
Does not bond with porcelain, noble or base metal
• casting
More elastic than ZnPO4 hence difficult to remove
excess after setting
 Uses

Cementation of metallic crowns & bridges,

porcelain restorations
Cementation of Orthodontic bands.
Cementation of pediatric stainless steel
crowns
As thermal insulating base
As temporary filling materials

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