Insight Into the Effect of Ti/Zr Oxide Hybrid Particles on Dental Composites: Particle Synthesis and Characterization and the Mechanical Behavior of Composites

Abstract

Hybrid particles were synthesized with sol–gel-based hydrothermal method using alkoxide precursors, and the usability of these particles in dental composites was investigated. First, the effects of varying Ti/Zr and nacid/ nalkoxide ratios on the crystal and microstructure of the synthesized particles (Ti, Zr) hybrids were investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD), a particle size and a surface charge analyzer, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis were used to reveal the structural parameters. ZTit-1, ZTit-4, and ZTit-6 particles were crystalline, while ZTit-2, ZTit-3, and ZTit-5 particles were amorphous. The zeta potential of the most stable ZTit-4 particle was 43.33 mV. ZTit-3 particles had the highest surface area and ZTit-5 particles had the highest micropore area. The presence of Ti/Zr oxide and titanate structures was determined by FTIR analysis. In the next step of the study, the mechanical behavior of the synthesized Ti/Zr-based hybrid particles in the dental organic matrix was investigated. The flexural, compressive strengths, and microhardness of the ZTit-4 composite with optimal flowability were 175±16.1 MPa, 242±7.8 MPa, and 32.9 Hv.