DENTAL MATERIALS
FRACTAL ANALYSIS OF SOME
RESTORATIVE NANO-FILLED
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
MICROSTRUCTURE
Cite this article:
Nica I, Stoleriu S, Iovan G,
Pancu G, Andrian S.
Fractal analysis of some
restorative Nano-filled composite
materials microstructure.
Stoma Edu J. 2015;2(1):36-43
Irina Nicaa,
Simona Stoleriub,
Gianina Iovanc,
Galina Pancud,
Sorin Andriane*
Department of Odontology, Periodontology
and Fixed Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dental
Medicine, „Gr.T.Popa” University of Medicine
and Pharmacy, Jassy, Romania
DDS, PhD, Assistant Professor
b
DDS, PhD, Lecturer
c
DDS, PhD, Associated Professor
d
DDS, PhD, Assistant Professor
e
DDS, PhD, Professor
a
Abstract
Aim: The aim of the present study was to compare the microstructure of some
commercially available resin-based restorative nano-composites using fractal
analysis.
Methods - Experimental technique and materials
20 samples of two nanocomposites Filtek Supreme XT and Filtek Ultimate (3M
ESPE) were examined by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive
X-ray spectroscopy. Using element mapping, the filler particles were identified
and their volume percentages and cluster particle size distributions were
calculated. The fractal analysis was performed on microscopic images and the
average fractal dimension was calculated for both type of materials.
Results: The SiO2/ZrO2 particle percent in volume was 45.73/12.61 (% vol.)
for Filtek Ultimate composite resin and 48.65/9.66 (% vol.) for Filtek Supreme
XT. The average of SiO2/ZrO2 cluster particle size was 0.26/0.20 µm for Filtek
Ultimate composite resin and 0.36/0.21 µm for Filtek Supreme XT. The fractal
dimension was 1.73 for Filtek Ultimate and 1.65 for Filtek Supreme XT.
Conclusions: Filtek Supreme XT composite resin presents a higher SiO2 but a
lower ZrO2 particle percentage in volume when compared to Filtek Ultimate
composite resin. Both SiO2 and ZrO2 cluster particle size are higher in Filtek
Supreme XT than in Filtek Ultimate. Filtek Ultimate microstructures have an
increased fractal dimension when compared to Filtek Supreme XT, as an
expression of a better particle-matrix adhesion surface.
Keywords: nanofilled composite, microstructure, Filtek Supreme XT,
Filtek Ultimate, fractal analysis
Introduction
Received: May, 14th 2015
Accepted: June, 1st 2015
* Corresponding author:
Sorin Andrian, DDS, PhD,
Professor, Department of Odontology,
Periodontology and Fixed Prosthodontics,
Faculty of Dental Medicine, „Gr.T.Popa”
University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16
Universitatii Str., RO-700115
Jassy, Romania
Tel/Fax: +40232301618
e-mail: [email protected]
The enormous research on ceramic
nanosized particles during the past years
has led to numerous innovations. One
of these was the development of nanocomposite materials, which are a relatively
new class of materials of ultrafine phase
dispesion, typically ranged between 1
and 100 nm. Experimental studies showed
that various types of nano-composites
lead to new and improved properties
when compared to their micro and macrocomposite counterparts (1). Reports of
particulate-based composites suggested
that conductivity, dimensional stability,
mechanical and other properties may
be improved by incorporating small
STOMA.EDUJ (2015) 2 (1)
filler particles