Matte Dental Components via Polymer Particle Dispersion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Dental components produced by SLA or DLP methods often have excessively glossy surfaces, which are difficult to digitize and are not compatible with traditional dental processing methods, leading to user acceptance issues and increased costs due to the need for additional treatments like matting liquids or mechanical roughening.
Innovation Solution
A light-curing composition comprising a high proportion of liquid monomers and solid polymer particles with a particle diameter of 0.4 to 4 μm, dispersed in the monomer composition, which reduces surface gloss without increasing roughness, allowing for matte finishes without the need for inorganic additives or additional treatments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional light-curing composition is used in SLA or DLP methods, then dental components can be produced efficiently, but the surface becomes excessively glossy which is difficult to digitize and incompatible with traditional dental processing methods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the light-curing composition by incorporating solid polymer particles with specific size ranges (0.4 to 4 μm) and controlling their concentration (0.1 to 30% by weight). This parameter modification alters the surface optical properties to reduce gloss while maintaining the curing efficiency required for productive SLA/DLP manufacturing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite light-curing composition by combining liquid monomers with solid polymer particles. This composite structure allows the liquid phase to maintain good flow and curing characteristics for efficient production, while the solid polymer particles provide surface matting effects that improve scannability, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and ease of operation
2Ease of operation
If matting liquids or mechanical roughening is applied to reduce surface gloss, then surface scannability improves, but production time increases and additional costs are incurred
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating the solid polymer particles into the light-curing composition before the manufacturing process. The matting effect is built into the material itself, so the surface gloss reduction occurs automatically during curing without requiring subsequent matting liquid application or mechanical roughening steps, thereby eliminating additional time loss
Solution Approach 2:
The light-curing composition with solid polymer particles is self-sufficient in providing the matting effect. The composition itself contains the necessary components to reduce surface gloss during the curing process, eliminating the need for separate post-processing treatments and associated time costs
3Ease of operation
If inorganic additives are used to reduce surface gloss, then surface properties improve, but mechanical properties of the dental component may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the composition parameters by using organic solid polymer particles instead of inorganic additives. This substitution maintains the beneficial surface matting effect while preserving the mechanical properties, as the organic polymer particles are more compatible with the dental material matrix and do not create the same compromising effects as inorganic fillers
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 achieves a significant reduction in surface gloss, enabling the production of dental components with a silky matte finish that is easily scannable and compatible with digital scanning, reducing production time and costs while maintaining mechanical properties.
Implementation Method 1
a light-curing composition for the production of dental components in a DLP method or SLA method, comprising on the basis of the total mass of the light-curing composition: a liquid monomer composition with a mass fraction of 60% or more, comprising one or more radically polymerizable monomers, one or more photoinitiators with a combined mass fraction in the range from 0.001 to 10%
Implementation Method 2
solid polymer particles with a particle diameter in the range from 0.4 to 4 μm and a combined mass fraction in the range from 0.1 to 30%, wherein the solid polymer particles are dispersed in the liquid monomer composition
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a light-curing composition for producing dental components in a DLP method or SLA method, comprising, in relation to the total mass of the light-curing composition: a liquid monomer composition with a mass fraction of 60% or more, comprising one or more radically polymerizable monomers, one or more photoinitiators with a combined mass fraction in the range from 0.001 to 10%, and solid polymer particles with a particle diameter in the range from 0.4 to 4 μm and a combined mass fraction in the range from 0.1 to 30%, wherein the solid polymer particles are dispersed in the liquid monomer composition.