Analyses on mechanical and physical performances of nano-apatite grafted glass fibers based dental composites

The objective was to evaluate the physical and mechanical properties of nano-hydroxyapatite grafted electrical-grade glass fibers (nHA/E-glass fibers) based composites. The nHA/E-glass fibers were synthesized by microwave-irradiation technique and were incorporated (0, 40, 50, and 60 wt%) in resin-matrix as fillers. The nHA/E-glass fibers were silanized using hydrolysis method. The morphological analysis of silanized nHA/E-glass fibers was done with scanning electron microscope. The dynamic mechanical analysis was performed under three-point bending testing mode. The surface abrasion analysis were performed for 20,000 cycles at 20 kN. The samples were tested under chewing simulation cycles (100,000 and 200,000) and 3-D surface roughness analysis was investigated before and after chewing simulation. The uniform coating of silane coupling agent was found on the surface of nHA/E-glass fibers. The storage modulus values were increased with the addition of nHA/E-glass fibers, whereby the values at 37 °C for unfilled resin and experimental composite with 60 wt% nHA/E-glass fibers were 1.79 ± 0.33 GPa and 3.25 ± 0.49 GPa, respectively. After 200,000 cycles, the surface roughness values of experimental composite with 0, 40, 50, and 60 wt% nHA/E-glass fibers were 0.62 ± 0.09 μm, 1.08 ± 0.12 μm, 1.43 ± 0.21 μm, and 0.93 ± 0.13 μm, respectively. The experimental composite with 60 wt% nHA/E-glass fibers has shown promising results and has potential to be considered as dental restorative composite. [Display omitted] •Low mechanical properties are associated with hydroxyapatite-based dental composite.•Nano-hydroxyapatite grafted E-glass fibers showed promising results.•Mechanical properties of composites depend upon concentration of bioactive fibers.•Experimental composites showed resistance under chewing simulation.