Aromatic Silane Matrix for Dental Translucency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dental materials lack the ability to finely adjust mechanical and optical properties independently, such as refractive index, translucency, and mechanical strength, which limits their versatility and aesthetic appeal, and often require expensive or hard-to-produce fillers.
Innovation Solution
Development of organically modified silanes and silicic acid (hetero)polycondensates with adjustable proportions of aromatic groups, hydroxy groups, and cyclic ether groups, allowing for precise control of refractive index and mechanical properties through a single starting system with minimal reactions, avoiding the use of expensive fillers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If expensive fillers with specific refractive indices are used to achieve high translucency in dental materials, then the aesthetic quality is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the matrix system by incorporating aromatic groups (such as phenyl rings) into the silane structure. This increases the refractive index of the matrix itself, allowing it to match fillers more effectively and achieve high translucency without requiring expensive low-refractive-index fillers
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite system where the matrix and fillers are specifically designed to work together. By using fillers with refractive indices between 1.45-1.55 and matching them with a matrix containing aromatic groups, the patent achieves optimal light transmission and aesthetic appearance
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple different materials are used to achieve specific mechanical and optical properties, then the property customization is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent develops a universal matrix system based on silicic acid (hetero)polycondensates with aromatic groups that can be adapted for different applications by simply adjusting the filler content and type. The same base matrix can produce materials with different mechanical strengths, translucencies, and other properties, eliminating the need for multiple specialized material systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent allows for local optimization of material properties by selecting specific fillers with appropriate refractive indices and particle sizes for specific dental applications. The matrix composition can also be locally adjusted by varying the aromatic group content to match specific filler characteristics
3Illumination intensity
If aromatic groups are introduced to increase refractive index and improve translucency, then the optical properties are improved, but the mechanical properties may be adversely affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the concentration of aromatic groups in the matrix system to achieve the desired refractive index while maintaining mechanical strength. By controlling the molar proportion of aromatic groups relative to hydroxyl groups and cyclic ether groups, the patent finds the optimal balance between optical and mechanical properties
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the synergistic effect of the aromatic-containing matrix and carefully selected fillers to achieve both high translucency and mechanical strength. The composite structure allows the matrix to provide optical properties while the filler-matrix interface contributes to mechanical reinforcement
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the production of dental materials with tailored refractive index, translucency, and mechanical properties, such as high strength and low shrinkage, without the need for costly fillers, ensuring biocompatibility and aesthetic quality.
Implementation Method 1
The reaction for the introduction of this group is designed in such a way that a free hydroxy group is formed at the same time. This is achieved by using a cyclic ether group on the silane/silicic acid (hetero)polycondensate
Implementation Method 2
The introduction of aryl groups increases the refractive index of the final cross-linked material made from the starting materials
Implementation Method 3
These materials can be produced from the same silane or (hetero)polysiloxane starting system in a maximum of two, sometimes even just a single process step
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to silanes of formula (I), R1 mR2 nSiX4-m-n (I), and to organically modified silicic acid (hetero) polycondensates, containing hydrocarbon-containing residues R1 bonded to the silicon atom by means of carbon, wherein R1 is in each case a hydrocarbon-containing, branched or unbranched residue that is substituted at at least one of the carbon atoms thereof with a group of formula (II), (Ar)b(W)a-A-Y(R3)- (II), wherein Ar means an aromatic residue that bears or consists of at least one aryl and/or heteroaryl group, W is a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon residue, the chain of which can be interrupted by -S-, -O-, -NR4-, -C(O)O-, -NHC(O)-, -C(O)NH-, -NHC(O)O-, -C(O)NHC(O)-, -NHC(O)NH-, -S(O)-, -C(S)O-, -C(S)NH-, -NHC(S)-, -NHC(S)O-, A is either bivalent and then has the meaning -O-, -C(O)O-, -S-, -NR4- or -P(O)e(R4)c(Z)d- with Z = OR4, c = 0 or 1, d = 0 or 1, (c+d) = 1, and e = 0 or 1, or is trivalent and means -N= or -P(O)e=, R4 is any hydrocarbon-containing residue and can also mean hydrogen in the residue -NR4, Y is an alkylene group that arose from the ring opening of a reactive cyclic ether group, which alkylene group can bear further substituents in addition to the residue R3 specified in formula (II), R3 is either OH or means -D-{B} or -D-(W)a(Ar)b, wherein D is selected from among a carboxyl group (ester group), an ether group, a urethane group, and an ethylenoxy group, which ethylenoxy group is substituted with hydroxy, which carboxyl group (ester group), ether group, urethane group, or ethylenoxy group is bonded by means of carbon to {B} or to W or, in the case of a = 0, to Ar, and {B} is a residue that can be organically polymerized and that bears at least one C=C double bond that can be organically polymerized, and W, Ar, a, and b are defined as for formula (II), wherein Ar must be bonded to W, provided that a ≠ o, a is 0 or 1, and b can be 1, or, in the case that a = 1 and/or in the case that A is trivalent, b can be an integer greater than 1, R2 is a hydrocarbon-containing residue bonded to the silicon, X is a group that can be hydrolyzed off of silicon under hydrolytic conditions or is OH, m is 1, 2, or 3, and n is 0 or 1 or 2, provided that m + n is 1, 2, or 3.