Development of Metal-Resin Composite Restorative Material: Part 2 Effects of acid and heat treatments of silver-tin filler particles on flexural properties of metal-resin composite

The effects of acid and heat treatments of silver-tin filler particles on the flexural properties of metal-resin composite restorative materials were investigated. Five metal-resin composite restorative materials containing different silver-tin filler particles treated under different conditions were experimentally prepared. The conditions of the alloy particles were; 1) as atomized (NT), 2) 1.8% HCl acid-treated (AT), 3) heat-treated at 150°C for 5min after AT (A15), 4) heattreated at 200°C for 5min after AT (A20) and 5) heat-treated at 250°C for 5min after AT (A25). The flexural strength and the flexural modulus of elasticity were measured for the five metalresin composites to evaluate the effects of the acid and heat treatments. The flexural strength of the prepared composites was significantly influenced by the surface condition of the filler particles (p