Dental Glass Ionomer Filler Surface Modification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dental glass ionomer cements exhibit insufficient strength due to weak interactions between fillers and the main components, and existing filler treatments are costly, troublesome, and may lead to uneven surfaces or metal ion elution from natural feldspar fillers.
Innovation Solution
A filler is manufactured by binding a carboxylic acid with unsaturated double bonds to an inorganic powder treated with a silane coupling agent, creating a strong interaction via metal ions when mixed with dental glass ionomer cement, enhancing the strength of the hardened cement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If feldspar is used as filler, then natural composition is available, but metal ions easily elute in the presence of water and composition is inhomogeneous
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive and unreliable natural feldspar with a cost-effective synthetic alternative. The inorganic powder is artificially engineered with controlled composition and structure, eliminating the variability and metal ion elution issues of natural materials while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the chemical parameters of the filler by treating the inorganic powder surface with specific silane coupling agents and carboxylic acids. This changes the surface chemistry to achieve desired properties: improved adhesion, controlled composition, and reduced metal ion elution, while maintaining ease of manufacture.
2Strength
If polyacid and aminoalkyltrialkoxysilane surface treatment is applied, then filler interaction with cement components is improved, but treatment is troublesome and costly with uneven surface results
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and separates the surface treatment functions into distinct, sequential steps. Instead of applying multiple complex treatments simultaneously, the process isolates silane coupling agent application followed by carboxylic acid treatment, simplifying the overall procedure while maintaining strong filler-cement interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces silane coupling agents as intermediary substances between the inorganic powder and carboxylic acid. This intermediary layer facilitates strong chemical bonding and adhesion between the filler and cement components, achieving high interaction strength through a controlled, simplified process rather than complex direct treatment.
3Ease of operation
If filler with weak interaction with base components is used, then handling is simpler, but strength of hardened cement is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary surface treatment to the inorganic powder before mixing with cement components. The silane coupling agent and carboxylic acid are pre-applied to the filler surface, creating reactive groups that will interact strongly with the cement base components during hardening, ensuring high strength while maintaining ease of mixing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite filler structure combining inorganic powder core with organic silane-carboxylic acid surface layers. This composite structure provides both the simplicity of inorganic fillers for handling and the strong interaction capabilities of organic compounds with cement components, achieving both ease of operation and high strength.
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 method produces a filler that significantly improves the strength of the hardened cement, providing a stable and homogeneous filler for dental glass ionomer cements with improved handling and aesthetic properties.
Implementation Method 1
an inorganic powder whose surface is treated with a silane coupling agent having unsaturated double bond(s)
Implementation Method 2
binding a carboxylic acid having unsaturated double bond(s) to an inorganic powder whose surface is treated with a silane coupling agent having unsaturated double bond(s)
Implementation Method 3
the carboxyl group interacts with the main component of the cement via metal ions, whereby the filler stabilizes in the composition
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a filler for dental glass ionomer cements, the filler to a surface of which a compound(s) having a carboxyl group(s) is/are bound via a silicon atom, for the purpose of providing: a filler suitable for dental glass ionomer cements that can provide a hardened cement having a high strength by being mixed with a dental glass ionomer cement composition, the filler that can be easily manufactured from a general inorganic powder as a raw material; and a manufacturing method of the filler for dental glass ionomer cements. The manufacturing method includes binding a carboxylic acid having an unsaturated double bond(s) exclusive of a (meth) acrylate compound to an inorganic powder whose surface is treated with a silane coupling agent having an unsaturated double bond(s).