Effect of silanation of fillers on their dispersability by monomer systems

The effect of silanation on the dispersion of quartz and zirconia-silica fillers by monomers used to formulate composites was studied. Sixteen silane coupling agents and three methods were used, and the amounts of the monomers needed to reach wet and flow point values were determined. The silanes were selected to have a variety of organofunctional and hydrolysable groups. Silanation was done from an ethanol-water solution of the silanes and by adding the silanes directly to the filler at room temperature (24 degrees C) and at the boiling temperature of the silanes. The amount of silane used was either that required to produce minimum uniform coverage on the fillers or three times the minimum coverage. All silanes and all methods of treatment decreased the flow values for both fillers compared to the unsilanated controls. Generalizations were that the effectiveness of silanation on the dispersion of the filler particles was greater (i) when silanation from ethanol solution was used compared to direct addition; (ii) when three times the minimum uniform coverage was used; (iii) when the silane contained methoxy rather than ethoxy groups; (iv) when the silanes were trialkoxy rather than dialkoxy compounds; (v) when the length and bulkiness of the organic functional group was smaller; and (vi) when the organic functional group was methacrylate rather than acrylic. The strength of composites prepared from one of the monomer systems and quartz silanated with methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane was higher than those silanated with acryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, which supports the use of the wet and flow point values as screening tests for estimating the dispersability of fillers.