Effects of adding barium-borosilicate glass to a simplified etch-and-rinse adhesive on radiopacity and selected properties.

To evaluate the radiopacity, ultimate tensile strength (UTS), microhardness (KHN), degree of conversion (DC), water sorption (WS) and solubility (SL) of experimental adhesives. Five experimental adhesives with different concentrations of barium-borosilicate oxide microfillers [0% (R0), 30% (R30), 40% (R40), 50% (R50), 60% (R60)] were formulated based on the adhesive system Ambar (FGM). The adhesive Adper Single Bond 2 (SB, 3M ESPE) was used as commercial reference. For the radiopacity (n = 5), KHN (n = 5), WS (n = 10), and SL (n = 10) tests, adhesive disks were constructed (5.0 mm in diameter and 1.0 mm thick), while for UTS (n = 5), hourglass-shaped specimens with a cross-sectional area of 0.8 mm2 were used. The FTIR spectra of unpolymerized and polymerized adhesives were used to determine the DC. Data were submitted to a one-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (α = 0.05). All experimental adhesives showed radiopacity similar to enamel, except those of R0 and SB. Filler addition did not jeopardize the UTS, KHN, or WS of the filled adhesives in comparison with the unfilled version. Except for R40, filler addition reduced the SL. The filled adhesives showed lower DC when compared with R0, but the DC was similar or higher when compared with SB. The addition of barium-borosilicate glass up to 50% did not jeopardize the mechanical properties of the adhesive layer and seems to reduce its solubility.