Abstract
Six commercial fluoride gels have been studied, using a cone and plate viscometer. Also, the thickening agents have been analyzed using infrared spectroscopy. All gels showed stress thinning, which is the decrease of viscosity with shear rate. Such shear rate dependence is clinically convenient in that the gel will flow readily at the high shear stresses present when the gel is applied but will not flow readily under its own weight when on the tooth. Five materials containing hydroxyalkyl celluloses showed similar degrees of shear thinning. One material with a non-cellulosic thickener showed much more extreme stress thinning together with elastic behavior at low shear rates; such behavior may be clinically advantageous. All of the gels showed only slight temperature dependence of rheological properties.
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