Accelerated setting of dental stone Methods to accelerate the gypsum set

potassium sulfate
sodium chloride (salt)
J. A. von Fraunhofer, Ph.D., M.Sc.,* and R. R. Spiers, B.A.** slurry - from dirty bowl or spatula
University of Louisville, School of Dentistry, Louisville, Ky heated water

D ental gypsum products, plaster, stone, and die

stone, must have specific setting times, setting expan-
sion, and strength characteristics that conform to
American Dental Association specifications for these
materials. The setting rate for gypsum materials can
be acceleratedby various methods, typically additions
of NaCl or KCl, K2S04, or slurry water.2-4A recent
report describeda technique for controlled acceleration
of dental plaster by meansof pulverized dihydrate and
water.
This article reports a convenient method of acceler-
ating the setting rate of dental stone without affecting
the strength of the final gypsum product.
METHOD
Dental stone(Quickstone, Whip-Mix Corp., Louis-
ville, Ky.) was mixed with water at a water-to-powder
ratio of 28.6 ml/100 gm and subjectedto compressive
strength and setting time determinations. Compressive
strength studies were performed on cylindrical speci-
mens8.6 mm + 0.1 mm in diameter and 17 mm f 0.5
mm high at a crossheadspeedof 2.5 mm/min with a
Unite-0-Matic Universal testing machine (United
*Professor of Biomaterials Science
**Krsra~~h Assistant.
Calibration Corp., Garden City, Calif.), while setting
times were determined in accordancewith ADA speci-
fication No. 25 for dental gypsum products. Strength
determinations were made at 1 hour after the start of
mixing.
Additions of KC1 and dental stone powder were
madeto the water prior to mixing of the water with the
powder. A minimum of 10 specimenswas prepared for
each addition of KC1 or dry powder to the mixing or
gauging water.
RESULTS
The mean compressivestrengths and setting times
(and their standard deviations) for dental stone pre-
pared with different addition levelsof KC1 and powder
to the gauging water are given in Table I. It can be seen
from the table that both additions at the 1% to 3.5%
level acceleratethe setting reaction but have no effect
on the compressive strength (statistical significance
level p > .05).
DISCUSSION
It can be seenfrom the results given in Table I that
an addition of 2% dry powder to the gauging water
reducesthe setting time of dental stonefrom 9 minutes
to slightly over 4 minutes without affecting the com-
pressive strength of the set material. Thus an addition

Table I. Effect of KC1 and stone powder on compressive strength and setting time of dental stone
(water-to-powder ratio 28.6 ml/ 100 gm)
Compressive
strength Setting time
KC1 addition (%) (mean + SD in MPa) (mean * SD in min)

0.0 33.9 + 2.5 9.0 -c 0.6

0.7 31.7 -+ 2.7 9.6 + 0.h
1.0 33.4 t 3.0 8.2 + i)..i
2.0 32.8 k 3.0 6.4 2 0.b
3.5 35.6 zt 2.6 5.4 -r 0 i
5.0 33.9 f 2.1 9.0 + I 2
Dry powder addition (W)
0.0 33.9 - 2.5 9.0 + 0 h
0.5 34.1 + 3.2 8.6 + 0 5
1.0 34.6 2 2.1 5.3 I 0 9
2.0 32.3 + 2.1 4.1 t 0 1

THE JOURNAL OF PROSTHETIC DENTISTRY 859

 ON FRAUNHOFER AND SPIERS

of 2% (or 1 teaspoon) dry powder to the gauging water, Phillips, R. W.: Skinners Science of Dental Materials, ed 8.
Philadelphia, 1982, W. B. Saunders Co.
which should be thoroughly shaken, before adding the
Craig, R. W.: Restorative Dental Materials, ed 6. St. Louis,
water to the powder, will accelerate the setting reaction 1980, The C. V. Mosby Co.
but have no effect on the strength of the final cast. OBrien, W. J., and Ryge, G.: An Outline of Dental Materials
This simple procedure should be useful in both the and Their Selection. Philadelphia, 1978, W. B. Saunders Co.
laboratory and the dental office when diagnostic casts 5. DeCounter, B. L., Kelley Jacob, R. F., and Scandrett, F. R.:
Accelerating plaster set using a controlled slurry water concen-
with optimum physical properties must be prepared on
tration. J PROSTHET DENT 47340, 1982.
short notice.
Reprint requests to:
DR. J. A. VON FRAUNHOFER
REFERENCES UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE
1. American Dental Association: Specification No. 25 for dental SCHOLL OF DENTISTRY
gypsum products. J Am Dent Assoc 84~103, 1972. LOUISVILLE, KY 40292

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860 JUNE 1983 VOLUME 49 NUMBER 6