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Abstract
Radio-opacity may be desirable for polymeric materials used in medical and dental applications. However, problems arise when radio opaque metallic salts are blended with polymer powders before polymerisation. A novel alternative approach is to use polymers in which the X-ray opaque element is chemically incorporated within the monomer unit. The present study investigates two potential materials, a barium methacrylate monomer which is a powder at room temperature and a tin methacrylate monomer which is liquid at room temperature, both then mixed with a methacrylate diluent. X-ray microtomography revealed that the powdered barium methacrylate material did not blend well and particles of high X-ray attenuation were formed. Whereas, X-ray microtomography images of the tin methacrylate material revealed that the mixture was completely homogenous. The possible application of these two materials as a pit and fissure sealant is described.