Glass Flake Bone Substitute Shrinkage Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dental and bone repair compositions are prone to shrinkage and stress cracking over time due to curing or hardening, leading to inefficiencies in long-term durability and stability.
Innovation Solution
A bone substitute composition comprising glass flakes with a high aspect ratio, produced through a controlled process involving specific parameters such as temperature, mass flow, and air pressure, is used to minimize shrinkage and enhance resistance to stress cracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing compositions are used for dental fillings or bone repair, then the material can be applied and hardened, but the composition is subject to shrinkage and high stress levels over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite material system consisting of glass flake particles dispersed in a polymer matrix. The glass flake serves as a reinforcing filler that compensates for the shrinkage of the polymer matrix during curing. This composite structure allows the material to maintain dimensional stability while achieving the required mechanical strength for dental and bone repair applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the physical and chemical parameters of the composition by controlling the particle size, shape, and concentration of glass flake. By optimizing these parameters, the material achieves reduced shrinkage and improved stress resistance. The specific parameter range of glass flake (0.1-10 μm diameter, 1:10 to 1:1000 aspect ratio) is critical for achieving the desired balance between shrinkage resistance and mechanical properties.
2Reliability
If existing compositions are used for dental fillings or bone repair, then the material can be applied and hardened, but the composition experiences high stress and fatigue levels over time
Solution Approach 1:
The glass flake-reinforced polymer composite provides enhanced mechanical strength and fatigue resistance compared to pure polymer materials. The anisotropic glass flake particles create a reinforced network structure that distributes stress more effectively, reducing fatigue accumulation over time while maintaining the required strength for load-bearing dental and bone repair applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the anisotropic nature of glass flake particles to provide localized reinforcement in critical areas. The plate-like structure of the glass flake creates regions of enhanced stiffness and strength where needed, while the polymer matrix maintains flexibility and toughness. This local quality enhancement allows the material to resist high stress and fatigue levels without compromising overall structural integrity.
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 composition effectively reduces shrinkage and stress cracking, resulting in improved long-term durability and stability for dental and bone repair applications.
Implementation Method 1
The overall composition of the material may vary from one application to another. By the term 'flake' is meant a particle with an aspect ratio of at least 20:1, that is to say, with the planar diameter being at least 20 times the thickness... Particularly preferred glass flake is up to 50 μm in the planar direction and a thickness of around 350 nm is found to give particularly good properties including resistance to shrinkage.
Data Source
AI summary
A bone substitute composition includes glass flake and a hardenable material. The glass flake is a particle with an aspect ratio of, at least, 20:1. The preferred thickness of the glass flake is in the range from 200 to 1,000 nm and the average particle size is, preferably, from 20 to 60 μm.