Abstract
A stone cast in a mold of an alginate impression material can have a rough surface.The surface roughness of a dental stone cast against the alginate impression material, was decreased by mixing with a surfactant solution.Among the surfactants tested the Quartamin 24 P cationic surfactant, particularly in a 1% solution, was the most effective for decreasing surface roughness in all four combinations of alginate impression materials with dental stones.The gelating reaction of the alginate impression material was depressed by the 24 P solution to a small extent, the elastic strain was scarcely affected.Loss of water from the gelled impression mateiral by evaporation was hardly affected by the 24 P solution.Another action of the 24 P solution was to retard the setting rate of the dental stone.Statistically significant difference was observed between surface roughness and wettability of the contact surface with dental stone.
