Synthesis and characterization of silica-based dental nanofillers with controlled morphology

Full text: Dental composite resins are formed by three types of chemically different materials: an organic matrix, an inorganic dispersed phase and a coupling agent (organosilane). In general, micrometric ceramic fillers are used to reinforce composite resins improving its mechanical properties. The most used inorganic fillers are silica particles. However, the influence of the morphology of these particles on the general properties of composite resins has not yet been studied. SiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized via a modified Sol-Gel approach that allowed the morphological control. The synthesized powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Thermal Analysis (TG-DTA), Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). FTIR spectra indicated the presence of Si-O bonds as while XRD diffractograms confirmed the formation of silica (SiO2). The particles were obtained with both cube and tube shapes. Therefore, herein we have developed a simple and economically strategy to prepare ceramic nanoparticles with controlled-shape. (author)