Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of thermal cycling on whisker-reinforced dental resin composites

  • Published:
Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The mechanical properties of dental resin composites need to be improved in order to extend their use to high stress-bearing applications such as crown and bridge restorations. Recent studies used single crystal ceramic whiskers to reinforce dental composites. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of thermal cycling on whisker-reinforced composites. It was hypothesized that the whisker composites would not show a reduction in mechanical properties or the breakdown of whisker–resin interface after thermal cycling. Silicon carbide whiskers were mixed with silica particles, thermally fused, then silanized and incorporated into resin to make flexural specimens. The filler mass fraction ranged from 0% to 70%. The specimens were thermal cycled in 5 °C and 60 °C water baths, and then fractured in three-point bending to measure strength. Nano-indentation was used to measure modulus and hardness. No significant loss in composite strength, modulus and hardness was found after 105 thermal cycles (family confidence coefficient=0.95; Tukey's multiple comparison test). The strength of whisker composite increased with filler level up to 60%, then plateaued when filler level was further increased to 70%; the modulus and hardness increased monotonically with filler level. The strength and modulus of whisker composite at 70% filler level were significantly higher than the non-whisker controls both before and after thermal cycling. SEM revealed no separation at the whisker–matrix interfaces, and observed resin remnants on the pulled-out whiskers, indicating strong whisker–resin bonding even after 105 thermal cycles. In conclusion, novel dental resin composites containing silica-fused whiskers possessed superior strength and modulus compared to non-whisker composites both before and after thermal cycling. The whisker–resin bonding appeared to be resistant to thermal cycling in water, so that no loss in composite strength or stiffness occurred after prolonged thermal cycling.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. R. L. Bowen, J. Am. Dent. Assoc. 66 (1963) 57.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. G. Willems, P. Lambrechts, M. Braem, J. P. Celis and G. Vanherle, Dent. Mater. 8 (1992) 310.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. J. L. Ferracane and J. R. Condon, ibid. 8 (1992) 290.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. K. J. Anusavice, Acad. Dent. Mater. Trans. 9 (1996) 25.

    Google Scholar 

  5. F. A. Rueggeberg, J. W. Ergle and P. E. Lockwood, Dent. Mater. 13 (1997) 360.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. J. D. Eick, G. M. Kaufman and C. C. Chappelow, Acad. Dent. Mater. Trans. 10 (1997) 89.

    Google Scholar 

  7. S. C. Bayne, J. Y. Thompson, E. J. Swift Jr., P. Stamatiades and M. Wilkerson, J. Am. Dent. Assoc. 129 (1998) 567.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. J. L. Ferracane, H. X. Berge and J. R. Condon, J. Biomed. Mater. Res. 42 (1998) 465.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. D. C. Watts and A. A. Hindi, Dent. Mater. 15 (1999) 39.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. T. M. Chen and G. M. Brauer, J. Dent. Res. 61 (1982) 1439.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. J. R. Condon and J. L. Ferracane, ibid. 76 (1997) 1405.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. W. W. Johnson, V. B. Dhuru and W. A. Brantley, Dent. Mater. 9 (1993) 95.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. S. Gladys, B. Van Meerbeek, M. Braem, P. Lambrechts and G. Vanherle, J. Dent. Res. 76 (1997) 883.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. S. L. Wendt and K. F. Leinfelder, J. Am. Dent. Assoc. 120 (1990) 177.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. S. L. Wendt, Quint. Int. 18 (1987) 265.

    Google Scholar 

  16. E. Asmussen and A. Peutzfeldt, Scand. J. Dent. Res. 98 (1990) 564.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. M. A. Loza-Herrero, F. A. Rueggeberg, W. F. Caughman, G. S. Schuster, C. A. Lefebvre and F. M. Gardner, J. Dent. Res. 77 (1998) 426.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. A. A. E. Hejazi and D. C. Watts, Dent. Mater. 15 (1999) 138.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. W. R. Krause, S. H. Park and R. A. Straup, J. Biomed. Mater. Res. 23 (1989) 1195.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. S. C. Bayne and J. Y. Thompson, Acad. Dent. Mater. Trans. 9 (1996) 238.

    Google Scholar 

  21. H. H. K. Xu and F. C. Eichmiller, U.S. Patent 5,861,445, filed May 1997, issued Jan. 1999.

  22. H. H. K. Xu, T. A. Martin, J. M. Antonucci and F. C. Eichmiller, J. Dent. Res. 78 (1999) 706.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. H. H. K. Xu, ibid. 78 (1999) 1304.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. E. C. Munksgaard, K. Itoh and K. D. JÖrgensen, ibid. 64 (1985) 144.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. J. D. Gross, D. H. Retief and E. L. Bradley, Dent. Mater. 1 (1985) 7.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. P. A. Darbyshire, L. B. Messer and W. H. Douglas, J. Dent. Res. 67 (1988) 585.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Y. Momoi, H. Iwase, Y. Nakano, A. Kohno, A. Asanuma and K. Yanagisawa, ibid. 69 (1990) 1659.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. S. L. Wendt, P. M. Mcinnes and G. L. Dickinson, Dent. Mater. 8 (1992) 181.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. K. J. Rossomando and S. L. Wendt, ibid. 11 (1995) 47.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. G. M. Montes-G and R. A. Draughn, ibid. 2 (1986) 193.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. L. H. Mair and R. Vowles, ibid. 5 (1989) 23.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. J. Tanaka, K. Inoue, H. Masamura, K. Matsumura, H. Nakai and K. Inoue, ibid. 12 (1993) 1.

    Google Scholar 

  33. H. H. K. Xu, J. Dent. Res. 79 (2000) 1392.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. ASTM F417-78: Standard test method for flexural strength of electrical grade ceramics. Philadelphia, PA: ASTM (1984).

  35. W. C. Oliver and G. M. Pharr, J. Mater. Res. 7 (1992) 1564.

    Google Scholar 

  36. B. Van Meerbeek, G. Willems, J. P. Celis, J. R. Roos, M. Braem, P. Lambrechts and G. Vanherle, J. Dent. Res. 72 (1993) 1434.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. G. Willems, J. P. Celis, P. Lambrechts, M. Braem and G. Vanherle, J. Biomed. Mater. Res. 27 (1993) 747.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. H. H. K. Xu, D. T. Smith and S. Jahanmir, J. Mater. Res. 11 (1996) 2325.

    Google Scholar 

  39. H. H. K. Xu, D. T. Smith, S. Jahanmir, E. Romberg, J. R. Kelly, V. P. Thompson and E. D. Rekow, J. Dent. Res. 77 (1998) 472.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. B. R. Lawn, in “Fracture of Brittle Solids” (Cambridge University Press, London, 1993).

    Google Scholar 

  41. H. H. K. Xu, in “Crack-bridging Toughening in Ceramics and Ceramic Fiber Composites” (Ph.D. Thesis, University of Maryland at College Park, 1993).

  42. K. J. Anusavice, in “Phillips' Science of Dental Materials, 10th edition” (W. B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia, 1996) p. 285.

    Google Scholar 

  43. H. H. K. Xu, L. Wei, N. P. Padture, B. R. Lawn and R. L. Yeckley, J. Mater. Sci. 30 (1995) 869.

    Google Scholar 

  44. J. L. Ferracane and E. H. Greener, J. Biomed. Mater. Res. 20 (1986) 121.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. H. H. K. Xu, D. T. Smith, G. E. Schumacher, F. C. Eichmiller and J. M. Antonucci, Dent. Mater. 16 (2000) 248.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. K. J. SÖderholm, J. Dent. Res. 60 (1981) 1867.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. K. J. SÖderholm, M. Zigan, M. Ragan, W. Fishlschweiger and M. Bergman, ibid. 63 (1984) 1248.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. H. H. K. Xu, C. P. Claudia, L. M. Braun and I. K. Lloyd, J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 77 (1994) 1889.

    Google Scholar 

  49. H. Iwanaga and C. Kawai, ibid. 81 (1998) 773.

    Google Scholar 

  50. H. H. K. Xu, S. Jahanmir, L. K. Ives, L. S. Job and K. T. Ritchie, ibid. 79 (1996) 3055.

    Google Scholar 

  51. H. H. K. Xu and S. Jahanmir, J. Mater. Sci. 30 (1995) 2235.

    Google Scholar 

  52. H. St. Germain, M. L. Swartz, R. W. Phillips, B. K. Moore and T. A. Roberts, J. Dent. Res. 64 (1985) 155.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. M. Braem, W. Finger, V. E. Van Doren, P. Lambrechts and G. Vanherle, Dent. Mater. 5 (1989) 346.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. W. W. Johnson, V. B. Dhuru and W. A. Brantley, ibid. 9 (1993) 95.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. A. Htang, M. Ohsawa and H. Matsumoto, ibid. 11 (1995) 7.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Paffenbarger Research Center, American Dental Association Health Foundation, USA

    Hockin H. K. Xu, Frederick C. Eichmiller, Gary E. Schumacher & Anthony A. Giuseppetti

  2. Ceramics Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899-8546

    Douglas T. Smith

  3. Polymers Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899-8546

    Joseph M. Antonucci

Authors
  1. Hockin H. K. Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Frederick C. Eichmiller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Douglas T. Smith
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Gary E. Schumacher
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Anthony A. Giuseppetti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Joseph M. Antonucci
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hockin H. K. Xu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Xu, H.H.K., Eichmiller, F.C., Smith, D.T. et al. Effect of thermal cycling on whisker-reinforced dental resin composites. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine 13, 875–883 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016504530133

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016504530133

Keywords

Search

Navigation