The fundamentals of the photopolymerization process are not well understood. As a result, issues affecting the cure speed and overall quality of the final product (shape, size, and surface finish) of photopolymerization impose significant limitations on applications that require fast processing and high spatial resolution. To address this issue, microrheology was employed to perform in-situ monitoring of the liquid-to-gel transition during free-radical photopolymerization. Photosensitive acrylate and hydrogel resins were exposed to ultraviolet light, while the Brownian motion of micrometer sized, inert fluorescent tracer particles was tracked via optical videomicroscopy. Statistical analysis of particle motion yielded the rheological properties of the embedding medium as a function of time and location, thereby relating UV exposure to the progress of polymerization and gelation. The microrheological setup enabled a detailed study of three-dimensional gelation profiles; other experimental parameters that were initially varied include photoinitiator concentration, monomer composition, and light intensity. Significant changes in gelation time were observed with varying UV intensity and UV penetration depth into the sample. In addition, oxygen inhibition was found to significantly impact the cure speed of monomeric resins. The preliminary results were used to test the accuracy of the energy threshold model, which is often used to empirically predict the outcome of photopolymerization reactions. By using lithographic masks to generate well-defined UV illumination patterns with characteristic dimensions of tens of micrometers, it could be shown unambiguously that the diffusion of oxygen, an inhibitor, plays a critical role in the polymerization reaction. The experiments are in excellent agreement with a simple two-step model of oxygen consumption followed by polymerization. The use of high-speed electronic shutters in the UV light path enabled us to control the illumination time of the samples with high precision. Microrheological analysis could be used to reconstruct three-dimensional profiles of partially polymerized samples. Traditional photorheometry is not capable of resolving the evolution of sample rheology with such spatial resolution. In addition, experiments with pulsed illumination were used to quantify the role of dark reactions due to residual free radicals after termination of UV illumination.

Thesis (M. S.)--Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2009. / Committee Chair: Rosen, David W.; Committee Member: Das, Suman; Committee Member: Grover, Martha A.

Cationic photopolymerization of multifunctional epoxides is very useful for efficient cure at room temperature and has been widely used in coatings and adhesives. Despite excellent properties of the final cured polymers, cationic photopolymerizations of epoxides have seen limited application due to slow reactions (relative to acrylates) and brittleness associated with a highly crosslinked, rigid network. To address these issues, two reaction systems were studied in this thesis: photoinitiated cationic copolymerizations of a cycloaliphatic diepoxide with epoxidized elastomers and acrylate/epoxide hybrid photopolymerizations. Oligomer/monomer structures, viscosity, compositions, and photoinitiator system were hypothesized to play important roles in controlling photopolymerizations of the epoxide-based mixtures. A fundamental understanding of the interplay between these variables for the chosen systems will provide comprehensive guidelines for the future development of photopolymerization systems comparable to the epoxide-based mixtures in this research. For diepoxide/oligomer mixtures, the observed overall enhancement in polymerization rate and ultimate conversion of the cycloaliphatic diepoxide was attributed to the activated monomer mechanism associated with hydroxyl terminal groups in the epoxidized oligomers. This enhancement increased with increasing oligomer content. The mixture viscosity influenced the initial reactivity of the diepoxide for oligomer content above 50 wt.%. Real-time consumption of internal epoxides in the oligomers was successfully determined using Raman spectroscopy. Initial reactivity and ultimate conversion of the internal epoxides decreased with increasing the diepoxide content. This trend was more pronounced for the oligomer containing low internal epoxide content. These results indicate that the reactivity of the hydroxyl groups is higher toward cationic active centers of the diepoxide than those of the internal epoxides in the oligomers. These conclusions are consistent with physical property results. The enhanced fracture toughness and impact resistance were attributed to multimodal network chain-length distribution of copolymers containing the oligomer content between 70% and 80%. For acrylate/epoxide hybrid mixtures, diacrylate oligomers significantly suppressed reactivities of cycloaliphatic mono/diepoxides, which was attributed to high mixture viscosity and highly crosslinked acrylate network. In this case, the dual photoinitiator system did not favor the epoxide reaction. Depending on the monovinyl acrylate secondary functionalities, enhanced reactivity and ultimate conversion of the diepoxide were attributed to a combined effect of a reduced viscosity and the radical-promoted cationic polymerization associated with the dual photoinitiator. The retarded and inhibited diepoxide reactivities with ether and urethane secondary groups were attributed to solvation and nucleophilicity/basicity effects, respectively. The influence of the diepoxide on the acrylate reactivity was attributed to dilution and polarity effects. In this case, high concentration of the free-radical photoinitiator is required for the dual photoinitiator system. Physical properties of hybrid polymers also varied with acrylate structures and monomer composition. Dynamic modulation methods were proposed to enhance the diepoxide reactivity and final properties in the presence of urethane acrylates.

A cinética de fotopolimerização do monômero metacrilato de metila (MMA) foi investigada usando o fotoiniciador tioxantona (TX) e o co-iniciador trietilamina (TEA), a fim de elucidar o mecanismo de fotopolimerização. A dilatometria foi usada como técnica para a determinação das cinéticas de polimerização. Determinaram-se os rendimentos quânticos de polimerização. Os estados excitados foram estudados por fluorescência estática para determinar as constantes de supressão de fluorescência pela amina e pelo monômero. Medidas de fotólise por pulso de laser permitiram obter o espectro de absorção triplete-triplete da tioxantona, bem como a constante de supressão do estado triplete. Os resultados mostraram que a supressão ocorre por um processo colisional no estado singlete e que os radicais eficientes na fotoiniciação são originados da amina TEA. A massa molecular média dos polímeros obtidos foi determinada por medidas de cromatografia de permeação em gel (GPC). Em uma segunda etapa, foi investigada a polimerização fotoiniciada por fotoiniciadores usados em resinas dentárias, canforquinona (CQ), 1,2-fenilpropanodiona (PPD), Lucirin e Irgacure. A velocidade de polimerização foi acompanhada por dilatometria usando excitação acima de 348 nm. Obteve-se os rendimentos quânticos de polimerização e os polímeros foram caracterizados por GPC. A maior constante de velocidade de polimerização obtida foi para o Irgacure e o maior rendimento quântico de polimerização obtido foi para o Lucirin. As diferenças na eficiência da polimerização são atribuídas à formação de radicais e à capacidade de gerar radicais a partir da absorção da luz incidente. Por fim, investigou-se os espectros de absorção triplete-triplete (TTA) da TX em diferentes solventes usando a técnica de fotólise por pulso de laser. Observou-se a formação de três bandas, duas referentes ao triplete da TX (uma em 300 nm e outra em 600 nm) e em 400 nm, observou-se a formação do radical cetila da TX. A abstração de hidrogênio do solvente pela TX pode ocorrer em 340 nm em solventes com constante de abstração de hidrogênio (kabstr) alto. Esse fator pode ser observado nos solventes 2-propanol e etanol. O substituinte na TX mostrou, através do parâmetro de Hammett do substituinte que com o aumento da eletronegatividade há um deslocamento do máximo de absorção do transiente para comprimentos de onda menores. / The photopolymerization of the monomer methyl methacrylate (MMA) using thioxanthone (TX) as photoinitiator and triethylamine (TEA) as co-initiator, was investigated in order to explain the photopolymerization mechanism. Dilatometry was used to determine the kinetics of polymerization. The polymerization quantum yields were determined. The excited states were studied using static fluorescence in order to determine the fluorescence rate quenching by the amine and the monomer. The triplet-triplet absorption (TTA) spectrum of thioxanthone and the rate constant of quenching of the triplet state were obtained using flash photolysis technique. The results showed that the singlet state quenching occurs by a colisional process and the efficient radicals in the photoinitiation process are originated from the amine TEA. The molar mass of the obtained polymers was determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The polymerization photoinitiated by the photoinitiators used in dental resins, Camphorquinone (CQ), 1,2- Phenylpropanodione (PPD), Lucirine and Irgacure was investigated in a second step. The rate of polymerization was studied by dilatometry with excitation above 348 nm. The polymerization quantum yields were obtained and the polymers were characterized by GPC. The larger rate constant of polymerization was found for Irgacure and the larger polymerization quantum yield was obtained for Lucirine. The differences in polymerization efficiencies can be tracked to the formation of radicals and the capability to produce the radicals after incident light absorption. Finally, the TTA of TX was studied in different solvents using the flash photolysis technique. The spectrum presented three bands, two due to the transient of TX (at 300 and 600 nm), and one at 400 nm assigned to the cetyl radical. The abstraction of a solvent hydrogen by TX is observed at 340 nm in solvents with high hydrogen abstraction constant (kabstr). This fact can be observed in 2-propanol and ethanol. An increase in the solvent polarity stabilizes the electronic pp* states and unstabilizes the np* states. The substitution in the TX molecule produced a shift to lower wavelength in the maximum absorption of transient with the increase of the electronegativity, as indicated by the dependence of the Hammett parameter.

Este estudo in vitro teve como objetivo avaliar comparativamente a microdureza superficial e o desgaste de uma resina composta, FiltekTM Z-250 (3M/ESPE), sob influência de diferentes fontes de luz (LED Ultrablue IS - DMC, LED Ultralume 5 - Ultradent e halógena VIP - BISCO), com variação das densidades de potência (300, 600 e acima de 800mW/cm2) e energia (6, >8, 12, >16, 24, >32 J/cm2). Espécimes retangulares (15 x 5 x 4 mm) foram polimerizados, conforme os fatores de variação, totalizando 15 grupos (n=6). Em seguida receberam acabamento e polimento com lixas de abrasividade decrescente (300, 600, 1200 e 2000), sendo armazenados em água deionizada a 37º C por sete dias. As mensurações da microdureza Knoop foram realizadas com auxílio do Microdurômetro Shimadzu HMV-2, com carga estática de 100g por 5s nas superfícies de topo e lateral (50µm da superfície). Posteriormente os espécimes foram levados à máquina de ensaios para simulação de desgaste por escovação, utilizando-se escovas dentais macias (Oral B 30 Indicator) e creme dental (Colgate) diluído em água deionizada na proporção de 1:2 em peso. Ao final de 100.000 ciclos, a dureza da superfície lateral foi novamente mensurada e o desgaste da área escovada foi determinado por meio de perfilometria (Hommel Tester T 1000 basic - Hommelwerke). Os dados de microdureza e desgaste superficial obtidos foram submetidos à análise de variância (ANOVA) e teste de Tukey (p<0,05). Os resultados evidenciaram que a microdureza superficial da resina composta avaliada foi significantemente menor quando da fotoativação com VIP-300 mW/cm2, sendo que os maiores valores foram observados com o aparelho Ultralume 5. O desgaste superficial foi significativamente influenciado quando da utilização de baixa densidade de potência (300 mW/cm2) e energia de 6 J/cm2, tanto com o VIP como Ultrablue IS, que demonstraram maior efetividade quando da utilização de densidade de energia acima de 12J/cm2. De forma geral, observou-se correlação negativa quando da interação dos testes de dureza e desgaste superficial, ou seja, quando os valores de dureza aumentaram os de desgaste diminuíram inferindo, entretanto, que isoladamente o valor de dureza não constitui em parâmetro para qualificar o desempenho da resina composta quanto à resistência ao desgaste. / This in vitro study evaluated comparatively, the superficial microhardness and wear of a resin composite, FiltekTM Z-250 (3M/ESPE) under the influence of different light sources (LED Ultrablue IS/DMC, LED Ultralume 5/Ultradent and halogen VIP/BISCO); with power (300, 600 and above 800mW/cm2) and energy density (6, >8, 12, >16, 24, >32J/cm2) variations. Rectangular specimens (15 x 5 x 4 mm) were polymerized, as the variation factors, totalizing 15 groups (n=6). After, they were ground flat with water-cooled carborundum discs in decreasing abrasive order (300, 600, 1200 and 2000) and stored for seven days, before the tests, in deionized water at 37º C. The Knoop microhardness measurements were carried out using a microhardness tester (Shimadzu HMV-2), with a 100g static load applied for 5s on specimens\' top and lateral surfaces (50µm under surface). In sequence the specimens were taken to a machine for brushing simulation, using soft nylon bristles (Oral B 30 Indicator) and dental paste (Colgate) diluted in deionized water in the ratio of 1:2 in weight. After 100,000 cycles, the hardness of the lateral surface was again measured and the wear profile of the brushed area was determined by a profilometer (Hommel Tester T 100 basic/Hommelwerke). The microhardness and superficial wear data were submitted to the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey test (p<0.05). The results showed that the superficial microhardness of the evaluated resin composite was significantly lower when photoactivated with VIP-300 mW/cm2, being the biggest values observed for the Ultralume 5 device. The superficial wear was significantly influenced by the low power density (300 mWcm2) and energy density of 6 J/cm2. This was for both, VIP and Ultrablue IS, which demonstrated greater effectiveness when a density of energy above 12J/cm2 was used. In general, a negative correlation was observed between the two tests (wear and microhardness). In other words, there was an increase of hardness with the decrease in wear values, which demonstrates that only microhardness values do not constitute a parameter to qualify resin composite wear resistance behavior.

Orientadores: Américo Bortolazzo Correr, Mário Alexandre Coelho Sinhoreti / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba / Made available in DSpace on 2018-09-11T21:16:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Feitosa_VictorPinheiro_M.pdf: 1748839 bytes, checksum: 19481c535f5edd50191d7995d2529e9f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Resumo: O objetivo neste estudo foi avaliar o efeito do tempo de fotoativação de adesivos de passo único e da pressão pulpar simulada na resistência da união e nanoinfiltração de compósitos resinosos à dentina humana. Este estudo foi separado em 2 Capítulos. No Capítulo 1 verificada a influência do aumento do tempo de fotoativação para um sistema adesivo autocondicionante de passo único (Clearfil S3 Bond) submetido ou não à pressão intrapulpar simulada. Foram obtidas superfícies planas em dentina profunda de terceiros molares, os quais foram separados em quatro grupos (n=5). O adesivo foi aplicado seguindo a recomendação do fabricante e fotoativado por 10 segundos (recomendação fabricante) ou 40 segundos (tempo de fotoativação aumentado). A fotoativação realizada com o aparelho de luz de lâmpada halógena XL-2500 com irradiância de 600 mW/cm². Os dentes foram restaurados com o compósito nanoparticulado Filtek Z350. Metade dos grupos foi armazenada sob pressão pulpar simulada e a outra metade armazenada em água, sem pressão pulpar simulada. Após 24 horas, os dentes foram cortados em palitos e submetidos ao teste de resistência da união por microtração. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância dois fatores e teste de Tukey (p<0.05). resultados mostraram que a pressão pulpar diminuiu significativamente a resistência união para ambos os tempos de fotoativação. O aumento do tempo de fotoativação de 40s resultou em significante aumento de resistência para os grupos com pressão pulpar; entretanto, não foi significativo para os grupos sem pressão. Pode ser concluído que pressão pulpar simulada diminuiu a resistência da união, mas o aumento do tempo fotoativação melhorou a resistência da união a dentina nos grupos armazenados sob pressão pulpar. No Capítulo 2 o objetivo foi avaliar in vitro uma nova metodologia para simular pressão pulpar comparada à metodologia tradicional. Foram utilizados quatro sistemas adesivos (Clearfil S3 Bond, Clearfil SE Bond, Adper Single Bond Plus, and Scotchbond Multi-Purpose), que foram aplicados em superfícies planas de dentina profunda de terceiros molares. Após a restauração com compósito as amostras foram armazenadas em água sem pressão pulpar, submetidas à pressão pulpar convencional ou pela nova metodologia pressão pulpar. Após 24 horas, os dentes foram cortados em palitos e submetidos ao teste de resistência da união por microtração. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância dois fatores e teste de Tukey (p<0.05). Os resultados mostraram que os adesivos simplificados (autocondicionante de passo único e de técnica úmida de dois passos) foram negativamente influenciados pela pressão pulpar, mas não houve diferença significativa entre as duas metodologias de simulação da pressão pulpar. Os adesivos autocondicionante de dois passos e de técnica úmida de três passos não foram afetados pela simulação pressão pulpar (p>0,05). O padrão de nanoinfiltração mostrou similaridade entre as duas metodologias. Os maiores valores de resistência da união foram apresentados pelo Scotchbond Multi-Purpose e os menores pelo adesivo Clearfil S3 Bond. Pode ser concluído que ambas as metodologias diminuíram a resistência da união dos adesivos de técnica simplificada, sem haver diferença entre a metodologia experimental e a metodologia convencional para resistência da união e padrão de nanoinfiltração. Conclui-se que aumento do tempo de fotoativação melhorou a união nos adesivos autocondicionante simplificados sob pressão pulpar simulada. Além disso, a metodologia experimental simulação da pressão pulpar pode ser utilizada em substituição a metodologia tradicional. / Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the extended photoactivation time for one-step self-etch adhesives and the simulated pulpal pressure applied into two methods on bond strength of direct restoration of composite resin to human dentin. This work was divided into two Chapters. The Chapter 1 analyzed the influence of extended photoactivation time of one-step self-etch adhesive Clearfil S3 Bond with and without conventional simulated pulpal pressure. It was obtained flat surfaces in deep dentin from extracted third molars and they were divided randomly in four groups (n=5). The adhesive was used in agreement with manufacturer's recommendation (photoactivation time 10s) and with the extended photoactivation time to 40s, after the composite restoration was built up with nanofilled composite resin Filtek Z350. The photoactivation procedures were realized with quartz-tungsten halogen lamp XL-2500 with a standard irradiance of 600mW/cm². Half of the samples were submitted to simulated pulpal pressure and the other half was stored in water without pulpal pressure. After 24 hours, the samples were cut into sticks and the microtensile bond strength test was performed. The results were submitted to two-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (p<0.05). Pulpal pressure decreased bond strength for both photoactivation times and the extended photoactivation time showed significant increase in bond strength for groups with simulated pulpal pressure, however the increase was not statistically significant for groups without pulpal pressure. It can be concluded that simulated pulpal pressure decreased bond strength, however the extended photoactivation time improved the bonding under pulpal pressure simulation. In Chapter 2, a new methodology to simulate pulpal pressure was tested in comparison with the traditional methodology and control groups without pulpal pressure. One adhesive system of each of the four approaches was applied in flat surfaces in deep dentin of extracted molars as in Chapter 1. After the composite was built up, samples were stored in water storage without pulpal pressure, under conventional simulated pulpal pressure or under the new methodology to simulate pulpal pressure. After microtensile test, the results showed no differences between two methodologies of simulated pulpal pressure (p<0.05) and nanoleakage patterns were similar for both methods. Simplified adhesives were more influenced by pulpal pressure than multi-step adhesives, showing significant decrease in bond strength. The highest bond strength values were obtained by the three-step adhesive Scotchbond Multi-Purpose and the lowest were obtained by the one-step adhesive Clearfil S3 Bond. In conclusion, the extended photoactivation time improves bonding for one-step self-etch adhesives under simulated pulpal pressure. In addition, the experimental methodology to simulate pulpal pressure can be used in replacing the conventional methodology. / Mestrado / Materiais Dentarios / Mestre em Materiais Dentários

The overall objective of this PhD thesis research is to characterize, understand and ultimately control phase-separated structures in mixed films consisting of a perfluorinated fatty acid and a photopolymerizable surfactant. In these systems, film morphology, mechanical properties and spectroscopic properties are inter-related and this thesis explores these relationships. In this context the interaction between perfluorotetradecanoic acid (C13F27COOH, referred to as PF in this dissertation), and 10,12-pentacosadynoic acid (CH3(CH2)11−C≡C−C≡C−(CH2)8COOH, referred to as PCDA in this dissertation) has been studied in monolayers using a combination of surface and spectroscopic characterization techniques. To investigate the inter-relationship of the properties described above, film behavior under a variety of conditions, including behavior at different interfaces (solid-liquid, air-liquid), different film compositions and under different conditions of photoillumination and mechanical stress were explored. Thermodynamic and morphological studies of mixed monolayer surfactant films of PF and the photo-polymerizable diacetylene molecule, PCDA, were carried out. The films were prepared at the air-water interface and transferred onto solid supports such as a glass slides via Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) deposition technique. The presence of the perfluoroacid helped to stabilize the diacetylene surfactant monolayer in comparison with the diacetylene alone, allowing film transfer onto solid substrates without needing to add cations to the sub-phase or photo-polymerize the components prior to deposition. Addition of the perfluorocarbon to PCDA resulted in films with the photopolymer strands oriented perpendicular to the direction of the film compression in a Langmuir trough. This is in contrast with film structures formed from pure PCDA. Formation of these features could be explained by a two-step process that happened sequentially: first, the compression of monolayer with trough barriers while trying to maintain the surface pressure constant induces stress on the film surface; second, additional film buckling which was enhanced by the strong cohesion between PF and PCDA. Film compression data, supported by in situ fluorescence spectrophotometry, Brewster angle microscope imaging and atomic force microscope images of deposited films, supported this mechanism. Factors that controlled the orientation of the photopolymer fibers were also investigated. Fibers were found to consist of multiple strands, with each strand having a different orientation. Our investigation also revealed there was a preferred orientation for fibers in the film as a whole. The angle of approximately 60o to the direction of film compression during deposition from a Langmuir trough has been calculated with the help of dual-view, polarized fluorescence microscopy. This orientation was attributed to the mechanical stress exerted by the trough compression barriers coupled with rotation of the polymer fibers during film draining. The combination of Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) and fluorescence microscopy (FM) provided a thorough and comprehensive mapping of fundamental properties of mixed monolayer system, and enabled a quantitative determination of the degree of selectivity of the polymerization process.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2008. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at El Paso, 2008. / Title from title screen. Vita. CD-ROM. Includes bibliographical references. Also available online.

Orientador: Giselle Maria Marchi Baron / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-09T18:39:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Voltarelli_FernandaRegina_M.pdf: 2059410 bytes, checksum: 22cefbd92cd0c4d2a5e932fba114a277 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / Resumo: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito do tipo de fonte de luz (Halógena/HAL, Diodos Emissores de Luz/LED, Laser de Argônio/LAS e Arco de Plasma/PAC) e dos meios de envelhecimento sobre a microdureza das superfícies de topo e base de cilindros de resina composta com 4mm de altura. Para este estudo foram confeccionados 200 corpos de prova em resina composta Filtek Z250 (3M ESPE) a partir de matrizes metálicas bipartidas cilíndricas (5mm de diâmetro e 4mm de altura), divididos, aleatoriamente, em 20 grupos (n=10) de acordo com a fonte de luz e o envelhecimento empregado (Ciclagem Mecânica/CM, Ciclagem Térmica/CT, Estocagem/E, CM+CT e CM+CT+E), onde a ciclagem térmica consistiu em 1000 ciclos, com banhos de 60s a temperaturas variando entre 5 ± 2 °C e 55 ± 2°C; a ciclagem mecânica, em 200000 ciclos com 2Hz de freqüência e carga vertical de 75N e, a estocagem, em armazenamento em solução tamponada de Hank pelo período de 1 ano. O teste de microdureza Knoop (25g; 20s) foi realizado nas superfícies de base e topo de cada corpo de prova antes e após os envelhecimentos. A análise estatística (ANOVA One-way; ANOVA em esquema de parcelas subdividades; Tukey, ?=5%; Teste para dados pareados) observou interação significativa entre os aparelhos, entre os aparelhos e os envelhecimentos e entre os tempos avaliados. Tanto para base como para o topo, antes dos envelhecimentos, PAC obteve menores valores de microdureza Knoop quando comparado à HAL. Na superfície de topo, depois dos procedimentos de envelhecimento, PAC e LAS também apresentaram valores de microdureza inferiores quando comparados à HAL. Os menores valores de dureza, dentre os procedimentos de envelhecimentos testados, foram obtidos pelos corpos de prova submetidos à estocagem (CM+CT+E e E). Na superfície de base, para PAC não houve diferença entre os envelhecimentos, enquanto para HAL, LED e LAS, CM+CT+E e E obtiveram menores valores de microdureza Knoop. Quando procedimentos de CM, CT e CM+CT foram realizados, PAC obteve valores de dureza inferiores, enquanto para CM+CT+E e E não houve diferença entre as fontes de luz utilizadas. Assim, podemos concluir que a qualidade do polímero formado pelo PAC pode ter reduzido os valores de microdureza knoop obtidos tanto na base como no topo antes dos envelhecimentos e no topo, juntamente com o LAS, depois dos envelhecimentos. Dessa forma, podemos notar que HAL ainda demonstra adequada polimerização das resinas compostas. Além disso, podemos concluir que todos os procedimentos de envelhecimento influenciaram adversamente as amostras confeccionadas com PAC, e que os procedimentos de estocagem (CM+CT+E e E) foram os procedimentos de envelhecimento que mais afetaram os valores de microdureza Knoop, apresentando-se prejudiciais para todas as fontes de luz / Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the light-curing devices (Halogen/HAL, Light Emitting Diodes/LED, Argon Laser/LAS and Plasma Arc/PAC) and aging procedures on the microhardness of bottom and top surfaces of resin composite cylinders with 4mm height, submitted to thermal and mechanical cycles, and one year storage. For this study 200 specimens of Filtek Z250 (3M ESPE) were prepared from metallic molds, and randomly allocated in 20 groups (n=10) according to the light source and the aging procedure employed (Mechanical Cycling/CM, Thermal Cycling/CT, Storage/E, CM+CT and CM+CT+E). The thermal cycling consisted of 1000 cycles (5±2C/55±2C)oo, the mechanical cycling in 200000 cycles (75N/2Hz), and the storage procedure in one year of storage in Hank solution. The microhardness test on bottom and top surfaces (25g/20s) was performed before and after the aging process. The statistical analysis (repeated measures of variance analysis and non parametric test) showed significant interaction between the devices, between the devices and the aging process, and also between the evaluated times. For base and top surfaces, before the aging procedures, PAC demonstrated reduced polymerization effectiveness when compared to HAL. In the top surface, after the aging procedures, PAC and LAS had also presented reduced polymerization effectiveness when compared to HAL. The lower hardness values, among the aging procedures tested, had been showed by the specimens submitted to storage (CM+CT+E and E). In the base surface, PAC did not presented differences between the aging procedures, while for HAL, LED and LAS, CM+CT+E and E had reduced the microhardness values. When CM, CT and CM+CT had been performed, PAC showed reduced polymerization effectiveness, while for CM+CT+E and E there was no difference between the light sources. Thus, we can conclude that the quality of the polymer formed by PAC reduced the microhardness values on the base and top surfaces before the aging process, and in the top surface after the aging procedures. It should be noted that HAL still demonstrate an adequate polymerization of resin composite. Moreover, we can conclude that all the aging procedures had been harmful for the samples confectioned with PAC, and that the storage procedures (CM+CT+E e E) were the aging procedures that had affected more the Knoop microhardness values, presenting themselves as harmful for all the light sources / Mestrado / Dentística / Mestre em Clínica Odontológica