Water Sorption
The uptake of water molecules by a dental material (especially resin-based materials) over time, which can adversely affect dimensional stability, mechanical properties, and colour.
Full Definition
Water sorption is a standardised property measured in micrograms per cubic millimetre (µg/mm³) for polymer-based dental materials, as defined in ISO 4049. Water absorbed into resin matrices causes plasticisation, hydrolysis of the polymer network, and potential elution of unreacted monomers. Editors must be careful to distinguish 'water sorption' (absorption into the bulk) from 'water solubility' (mass loss due to dissolution of components into water), as both are separately reported in ISO testing. The two are often incorrectly conflated in manuscripts. Together, sorption and solubility data are used to infer long-term degradation behaviour.
Usage
Usage note: Report water sorption in µg/mm³ per ISO 4049. Do not conflate with water solubility, which is a separately measured and reported value. Authors frequently confuse the two — flag and query when both terms appear without distinction.
In Context
- "Water sorption and solubility were determined after specimen immersion in distilled water at 37°C for 7 days, per ISO 4049." — Materials and methods section
- "The experimental composite exhibited significantly lower water sorption than the control material, suggesting improved hydrolytic stability." — Research article results section