Reinforcement of dental and other composite materials
AssigneeAmerican Dental Association Health Foundation
InventorsHuakun Xu, Frederick C. Eichmiller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A composition useful as a restorative material includes a curable matrix with whiskers which preferably have a silicon dioxide containing coating thereon that are then silanized and may also include optional particulate filler of the type which may release fluorides. The polymeric matrix bonds more tightly to the whiskers due to the coating of silicon dioxide on the surface of the whiskers and the coaction between said silicon dioxide and the silane compound. Particles adhered to the whisker also enhance the mechanical properties by virtue of the whisker's surface being thereby roughened. A method of manufacture is also disclosed.
Claims33
A composition useful as a restorative material comprising, in combination:
- a) from five percent (5%) by weight to ninety-five percent (95%) by weight of a curable matrix material taken from a group consisting of polymerics, glass ionomers, resin modified glass ionomers, polyacids, plastic resin monomers, water based cements, thermoset resin monomers, and mixtures of two or more of said materials;
- and
- b) a first dispersed solid material in the matrix of up to ninety-five percent (95%) by weight of precoated whiskers taken from a group consisting of single crystalline ceramic materials, polycrystalline ceramic materials, glass fiber materials, metal fiber materials, polymer fiber materials, and mixtures of two or more of said materials, said whiskers including solid particulates bonded to at least a portion of the surface thereof.
A method for manufacture of a restorative composition comprising the steps of:
- a) preparing solid material whiskers comprised of a material taken from a group consisting of single crystalline ceramic materials, polycrystalline ceramic materials, glass fiber materials, polymer fiber materials and mixtures of at least two of said materials;
- b) bonding said whiskers at least in part with solid material particles of a silicon containing compound prior to combination with a matrix material;
- c) mixing the whiskers having the particle coating with a curable fluid matrix material taken from a group consisting of polymerics, glass ionomers, resin modified glass ionomers, water based cements and mixtures of two or more of said materials;
- and
- d) curing the matrix material with the whiskers therein to form the restorative material.
A composition for a restorative material comprising, in combination:
- a) precoated solid whiskers selected from a group consisting of single crystalline ceramic materials, polycrystalline ceramic fiber materials, glass fiber materials, metal fiber materials, polymer fiber materials and mixtures thereof, said whiskers precoated with filler particles bonded to the surface thereof to cause distribution of the whiskers in the restorative material, said filler materials taken from a group consisting of ceramics, glass and polymeric composites;
- and
- b) said precoated whiskers dispersed in a curable, hardenable, fluid, polymeric matrix.
A method for manufacture of a restorative composition comprising the steps of:
- a) preparing solid material whiskers comprised of a material taken from a group consisting of single crystalline ceramic materials, polycrystalline ceramic materials, glass fiber materials, polymer fiber materials and mixtures of at least two of said materials;
- b) coating said whiskers with a silicon containing compound;
- c) bonding said coated whiskers, at least in part, with solid particles of a silicon containing compound prior to combination with a fluid matrix material;
- d) mixing the whiskers having the bonded particles with a curable fluid matrix material taken from a group consisting of polymerics, glass ionomers, resin modified glass ionomers, water based cements and mixtures of two or more of said materials;
- and
- e) curing the matrix material with the whiskers therein to form the restorative material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.