The purpose of this study was to evaluate the transmission spectrum of the set calcium hydroxide dental cement (Dycal, L.D. Caulk Co. Milford, Del.) Cement was prepared for A T R spectra at a low powder-to-liquid ratio of 3.0gm/ml in order to retard the reaction and facilitate the manipulation of loading the cement into the cell. Spectra were recorded on an I R Spectrophotometer (MX-1, FT) at an agle of incidence of 55. The A T R cell was a RIIc Model TR5 with a hemisperical KRS-5 (Thallium-Bromide-Iodide). A spectrum was recorded within 3 minutes. Further spectra were recorded after 5,10,30 minutes and 1,5,24, 72 hours. The results were as follows; 1. The setting reaction between acid paste and base past would take place fastly within 10 minutes after mix, and that would be slow until 72 hours after mix. 2. In the set cements, some methyl salicylate and calcium hydroxide remained unreacted until 72 hours after mix. 3. The setting reaction and the reaction rate occuring at the surface and in the bulk cements were similar. 4. The chelates were bound together between calcium hydroxide and methyl salicylate.