Tribological, mechanical, and thermal properties of nano tricalcium phosphate and silver particulates reinforced Bis-GMA/TEGDMA dental resin composites

The proposed study is based on fabricating a hybrid dental composite of nano tricalcium phosphate and silver nanoparticles with resin matrix. Silver nanoparticles (20 wt%) and tricalcium phosphate (0–4 wt%) were incorporated in Bis-GMA/TEGDMA resin matrix. Photo initiator and accelerator were also employed for the polymerization of dental composites. Wear or tribology analysis of dental composites was performed on pin on disc setup. Physical, thermal, and mechanical properties were investigated under ASTM parameters. Void, water solubility, and sorption increased with an increment of filler loading. Maximum polymerization shrinkage 3.85 ± 0.02 % and depth of cure 2.57 ± 0.12 mm indicated by control sample TAg0. Taguchi L25 orthogonal array was used as a design of experiment (DOE) for wear analysis. TGA revealed the thermal stability in the form of: TAg0 > TAg1 > TAg2 > TAg3 > TAg4 in the range of 22–100 ̊C. In conclusion, the direct restorative material composed by the hybrid showed good mechanical and physical properties and potential thermal results, widening the scope of Ag and tricalcium phosphate in the dental composites.