Effect of silane coupling agents on the wear resistance of polymer-nanoporous silica gel dental composites

Particle pre-treatment with a silane coupling agent, γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, increased the wear rate of triethylglycoldimethacrylate (TEGDMA) composites reinforced with HF-catalyzed nanoporous silica gel. The percentage filler porosity appeared to exert the greatest control on the wear properties. Increasing silanation led to a decrease in the surface area and total pore volume, resulting in a linear increase in the wear rate. It is believed that decreasing penetration of crosslinked TEGDMA into the gel particles contained within the composite caused a transition from plastic deformation to brittle fracture during wear. In addition, the presence of the coupling agent had no net effect on wear property preservation.