Methods: Solutions of methacryloxytri-n-butyl tin (MBT) were prepared containing 50, 75, 85 and 95 wt-% MBT and poured into 1 x 1 cm cuvettes. The MBT solutions were light cured for 30s using a CU-100r halogen lamp. The filled cuvettes were mounted onto X-ray microtomography (XMT) apparatus and 3D images obtained. The linear attenuation coefficients (LACs) of the polymerized material were obtained from the distributions of LACs in each 3D data set and compared.
Results: The XMT images showed that X-ray attenuation was homogenous throughout the materials for all compositions. The peaks of the LAC distributions increased linearly with weight percentage of MBT monomer. The LACs at 40keV were 2.92, 3.64, 4.36 and 4.76 cm-1 at 50, 75, 85 and 95 wt-% of MBT respectively. The LAC of enamel at 40keV is 3.0 cm-1.
Conclusions: Polymerized MBT monomers with weight percentage compositions of up to 95% produce materials of uniform high X-ray opacity. Such high X-ray opacity materials may have applications as radio-opaque dental materials, for example, fissure sealants.