Core-Shell Dental Filler via Electrostatic Agglomeration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dental filler materials lack optimal surface area and mechanical properties for improved handling, strength, and stain resistance in dental composites.
Innovation Solution
An agglomerated dental filler with a core and shell configuration, where the core and shell materials are attached via electrostatic forces, and subjected to thermal treatment to achieve a specific surface area and particle size, enhancing mechanical properties and handling characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional dental filler materials are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but surface area and mechanical properties are insufficient for improved handling and strength
Solution Approach 1:
The filler particle is segmented into a core and a shell, where the core provides mechanical strength and the shell provides surface area and handling properties. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for its specific function while maintaining overall particle integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite material structure with a core material and a shell material that are different in composition and properties. The core typically consists of inorganic oxide particles providing strength, while the shell consists of organic polymer material providing surface area and handling characteristics, creating a composite filler with superior overall performance.
2Ease of operation
If filler particle size is increased to improve handling, then ease of operation improves, but surface area decreases reducing mechanical properties
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the filler particle have different properties optimized for different functions. The core region has larger size and inorganic composition for strength, while the shell region has smaller effective size and organic composition for surface area and handling. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between overall particle size and surface area.
Solution Approach 2:
The shell material is nested around the core material, creating a core-shell structure where the smaller shell particles are contained within the boundary of larger core particles. This nesting allows the composite particle to achieve effective surface area enhancement while maintaining adequate overall size for handling.
3Manufacturing precision
If electrostatic forces are used to attach shell to core, then manufacturing precision is improved, but process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shell material is attached to the core material through electrostatic forces that arise naturally during the mixing and drying process, without requiring external attachment mechanisms or complex assembly steps. The charged core particles automatically attract and hold the oppositely charged shell material,实现ing self-assembly and self-attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces mechanical attachment methods (such as chemical bonding or physical adhesion processes) with electrostatic forces. This substitution simplifies the manufacturing process by utilizing fundamental physical forces that occur naturally during material processing, eliminating the need for complex attachment mechanisms.
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
The agglomerated filler material improves the handling, strength, and stain resistance of dental composites, providing better polishability and wear resistance compared to existing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
the shell material attaches to the core material via electrostatic forces, wherein the core material is positively or negatively charged and the shell material is an opposite charge of the core material
Implementation Method 2
subjected to thermal treatment to achieve a specific surface area and particle size, enhancing mechanical properties and handling characteristics
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein is a dental filler material having a core made of a core material and a shell made of a shell material, where the shell material coats or covers at least a portion of the core.