Effect of nanoparticles on mechanical and wear properties of ceramic polymer composites used in dentistry
Mikołaj Szafran*, Ewa Bobryk*, Beata Szczęsna*, Marek Jałbrzykowski** *Politechnika Warszawska, Wydział Chemiczny, ul. Noakowskiego 3, 00-664 Warszawa **Politechnika Białostocka, Wydział Mechaniczny, ul. Wiejska 45C, 15-351 Białystok
Quarterly No. 3, 2006 pages 83-97
DOI:
keywords: ceramic-polymer composites, nanofiller, wear, friction coefficient, microhardness, flexural strength
abstract Human expectations always implicates a demand for new technologies. The same rule applies to dentistry materials. Until quite lately amalgam fillings were used most often because its good mechanical properties as well as low price. However its disadvantages such as high termal conductivity and unsatisfying colour motivated scientists to investigate of new materials which could be used as dental fillings. Ceramic-polymer composites seemed to be the most perspective. The aim of this study was to conduct research on influence of type, quantity and filler’s grain size distribution on functional properties of ceramic—polymer composites used as dental fillings. Following latest scientific literature it is known that optymalization of quantity and composition of ceramic fillers can improve strength of composite materials. This is the reason for research on effect of filler, especially nanofiller on tribological and mechanical properties of dental composites. It was assumed that nanoparticles enhance durability of composite samples. To prove that series of samples was made. Each sample had different content of silica filler and nanofiller but total load was constant. Microhardness, flexural strength and tribological tests were performed on these samples. The results indicate that nanoparticles have the potential to improve microhardness (Fig. 1), wear (Figs. 3 and 4) and mechanical properties (Fig. 2) of ceramic-polymer composites used as dental fillings.