Tannic acid speeds up the setting of mineral trioxide aggregate cements and improves its surface and bulk properties

The setting time and mechanical properties of cements are a major technical concern for long in civil engineering. More recently those practical problems became biomedical applications -in bone surgery dentistry- particular concerning the which should be minimized. possibility to add organic additives interact with different constituting ions constitutes way modify kinetics. We made assumption that hydrolysable polyphenol like tannic acid could physical Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA). Tannic is added variable proportions water used set MTA. formation hybrid organic-mineral investigated using combination structural, chemical methods. X-ray tomography was also investigate changes porosity pore size distribution upon incorporation MTA based cements. hydrophilicity evaluated by measuring permeation kinetics small droplets. found allowed reduce markedly obtained have an increased display excellent resistance compression. number pores but not average affected. possible roles modifying cement discussed.