Abstract
A series of six new experimental light-curing dental composites based on two Bis-GMA-type oligomers, quartz and nano-fluorohydroxyapatite (nano-FHAP), in different ratios, were prepared. The paper refers to the characterization of organic and inorganic phases from the uncured composite pastes and determination of the properties of the light-cured composite materials. Differential scanning calorimetry was used to measure the heat of polymerization of the monomer mixtures. Investigation of nano-FHAP was made by transmission electron microscopy TEMBF, HRTEM and X-ray diffraction. The mechanical strengths, water sorption and solubility were determined. We came to the conclusion that for the same monomer mixture, the water sorption and solubility values increased with the content of nano-FHAP in the composite material, but there remained in the limits of ISO 4049/2000 for the compositions comprising up to 50% nano-FHAP in the filler. The highest mechanical strengths were obtained in the case of composites containing 75% quartz in the filler. Keywords: dental nanocomposites, extent of polymerization, mechanical properties, water sorption, solubility