Supporting data for "Green Synthesis of FUDMA in Dental Applications"

Fluorinated Urethane Dimethacrylate (FUDMA) has the properties of hydrophobicity, oleophobicity and its associated effect of solvent resistance due to its unique low surface energy chemical structure from the C-F bonding. These unique properties open pathways to many dental applications with improved longevity. However, its low surface energy also makes mixing harder, which limits its use in stereolithography. Prior synthesis of FUDMA shows the existence of tetrahydrofuran (THF) solvent, a carcinogen, that could not be removed from purification due to its similar polarity. Thus, refined and green synthetic procedure of FUDMA was performed. The FUDMA was applied to dental composite and compared with UDMA and BisGMA analogues. Mechanical properties such as flexural strength, Vickers hardness and viscosity were measured. The results showed that the new solventless-synthesized FUDMA was comparable to the ordinary FUDMA with THF solvents. Then, Additive Manufacturing or 3D printing, was applied. As a showcase, the newly synthesized FUDMA was utilized in 3D printing process of dental clear aligners. It is faster and easier to train technicians in comparison with tradition thermoforming process. However, unlike polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) that is used in thermoforming, the mechanical properties of printed aligners are often brittle, like the urethane methacrylate (UDMA) that are often used in dentistry due to its high strength and low cost. Since moisture from oral environment would weaken the bonds within the polymer through hydrolysis and plasticization, it would lead to reduced moving force enforced on the teeth. So, FUDMA was introduced and in combination with crosslinkers, and high strength, high solvent resistance clear aligners were manufactured successfully. As another example, FUDMA was added to 3D printable dental models that are made of a new bio-based (plant) polymer. 3D printed dental cast models can be used to produce aligners with traditional thermoforming method, as well as a tool for planning dental procedure, like crown and bridges, in an accurate manner. As a result, bio-based dental models with FUDMA modification can improve the model accuracies with decent mechanical properties. Finally, this study laid a foundation about using green chemistry for dental applications, from the raw material synthesis to formulation with suitable mechanical performance with respect to different dental applications.