NMR spectroscopy of dental materials. I. 31P studies on phosphate-bonded cement liquids.

Phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of phosphoric acid solutions containing zinc and aluminium indicates that zinc forms simple salts in solution, whereas aluminium forms a number of complexes, some of which are polymeric. The formation of the aluminophosphoric acid complexes controls the gelation and strengthening of the dental silicate cement and prevents the formation of crystalline zinc phosphate in the zinc phosphate cement.