Nanostructured Polymer Composites for Biomedical Applications

Nanostructured Polymer Composites for Biomedical Applications

Micro and Nano Technologies
2019, Pages 277-293
Nanostructured Polymer Composites for Biomedical Applications

Chapter 14 - Nanostructured Polymer Composites for Dental Fillings

https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-816771-7.00014-4Get rights and content

Abstract

The use of nanoparticles in dental materials goes beyond their esthetic advantages, based on the fact that the dimensions of nanoparticles are well below the wavelength of visible light. As a consequence, these particles are not detected by the naked eye and it is easier to control the optical properties of materials containing them. Due to their extremely small size, they have a high surface area to volume ratio, which enables improved adhesion of filling of this size to the resin, in most cases methyl(methacrylate), in turn making them easily polished and reducing wear. Other properties that are very recommendable for possible applications include their more uniform characteristics, namely, in terms of compression strength, impact, and hardness. In contrast, the flowability achieved with typical binary systems, such as bisphenol A-glycidyl methacrylate and triethylene glycol dimethacrylate, is maintained with nanofillers. The typical nanoparticles that are applied are based on silicon dioxide, normally prepared for polymerization by a precure process aimed at improving compatibility with the polymer, such as silanization. However, mechanical considerations, especially very low shrinkage, also make it important to ensure appropriate clustering of particles, which is better achieved with aluminum oxide ones. It is currently being investigated whether full radio-opacity is attainable, which depends on the higher molecular weight of the particles: in this case, zirconium dioxide might be preferable.

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