Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Nanofiller technology
Nanomer
(5-75 nm APS)
Nanocluster
(1
µ
APS clusters/2-20 nm
primary)
Conventional filter
(1
µ
m APS)
(A)
(B)
(C)
FIGURE 2.2
Schematics and TEM images of composites studied. (A) Composite with nanoparticles (60,000
magnification). (B) Composite with nanocluster particles (300,000 magnification). (C) Composite with
hybrid filler (300,000 magnification).
[25]
. The properties of the nanohybrid composite will be compared with those of the nanofills and
other conventional dental composites in Section 2.4.
2.3.2
Silsesquioxane-Based Composites
There have been several research publications regarding the incorporation of silsesquioxanes in den-
tal composites to improve a variety of properties including optical properties and shrinkage reduc-
tion of dental composites. Monomethacrylate functionalized POSS was copolymerized with other
methacrylate monomers and evaluated as dental restorative materials
[26]
. In this study, the incor-
poration of only 5.0% of the functionalized POSS monomer by weight was reported to significantly
reduce the shrinkage of the dental composite while improving the mechanical properties. However,
these results could not yet be reproduced in other laboratories
[27]
. Experimental methacrylate and
epoxy functionalized nanocomposites based on silsesquioxane cores for dental applications have been
