RESUMO
The aim of this study was to evaluate the degree of conversion (DC%), water sorption (WS), solubility (SO), and resin-dentin bonding stability of experimental adhesive systems containing ZnCl2. Different concentrations (wt.%) of ZnCl2 were added to a model etch-and-rinse adhesive system consisting of BISGMA, HEMA, UDMA, GDMA, water, and ethanol: Zn0 (0%-control group); Zn2 (2%); Zn3.5 (3.5%); and Zn5 (5%). Adper Single Bond 2 (SB) was used as commercial reference. The samples were light cured for 20s using a quartz-tungsten-halogen unit (650 mW/cm2). DC% (n = 5) was measured using FT-IR spectroscopy, and WS and SO (n = 5) were calculated based on ISO4049. Microtensile bond strength (µTBS) and nanoleakage (NL) were measured after 24 h and 12 months of water storage (n = 10). Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey's HSD test (5%). Zn5 presented the lowest DC% and the highest WS and SO (p < 0.05). Zn0 and Zn2 presented statistically similar DC%, WS, SO, and immediate µTBS. All adhesives containing ZnCl2 maintained a µTBS stability after 12 months, but only Zn2 and Zn3.5 did not suffer an increase in NL. SB presented the highest immediate µTBS but the greatest reduction after 12 months (p < 0.05). The addition of 2 wt.% of ZnCl2 in adhesive formulations seems to be a promising way to improve the resin-dentin bonding stability. Higher concentrations than 2 wt.% could impair some physicochemical properties.