Zinc Polycarboxylate Cements: A Chemical Study of Erosion and Its Relationship to Molecular Structure

Abstract
The erosion of zinc polycarboxylate cements by water was studied by chemical techniques. In three months, the elution rate diminished. The erosion pattern of each cement was related to the type of polyacid present in the cement. Relatively large amounts of magnesium were eluted. A mechanism of hydrolysis is proposed.