Relationship between contact angles of die stone on elastomeric impression materials and voids in stone casts.

Poor wettability of elastomeric impression materials results in surface defects on stone casts. This study examined the relationship between contact angles of die stone and voids in casts produced from five medium-viscosity impression materials. Contact angles of a die stone material formed against impression specimens made from polyether, addition and condensation silicones were measured by reflex microscope. The contact angle values achieved on the hydrophilic addition silicones were significantly higher than the polyether but lower than other silicone materials. Contact angle values correlated with the number of voids found at margins and line angles of stone casts but not with those on smooth surfaces.