Synthesis and characterization of bioactive glass fiber-based dental restorative composite

This study focused on the synthesis and characterizations of a newly developed bioactive glass fiber-based (nano-hydroxyapatite/E-glass fiber) dental composite. The nano-hydroxyapatite grafted E-glass (nHA/E-glass) bioactive fibers were synthesized using the microwave irradiation technique. The experimental composites were prepared by incorporating 0, 40, 50, and 60 wt% of nHA/E-glass fiber in resin matrices. The structural, morphological, thermal, and mechanical properties were assessed. The in vitro bond strength test was performed at days 1, 30, 90, and 180. Whereby, water sorption analysis in deionized water was performed at days 1, 7, 21, and 40. All experimental composite groups showed the homogenous distribution of reinforcing agents, and a significant difference in the degree of conversion among all groups was observed. It was observed that with the increase in the concentration of reinforcing agents, the intensity of spectral phosphate peaks also increased. The higher the nHA/E-glass fibers content, the higher the glass transition temperature, micro-hardness, and flexural modulus. Contrarily, flexural strength decreased with increased filler concentration. Water sorption was higher in unfilled composites compared to the composites with a high concentration of nHA/E-glass fibers. For each composite, there was no statistical significance (p ≥ 0.05) in bond strength from 1 to 90 days, whereas, at day 180, composites with 50 wt% and 60 wt% nHA/E-glass showed statistically significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) than other composite groups. This newly developed composite showed promising results with comparable structural, physical, and mechanical properties.