Photocurable nanodoped resins

Abstract

This work is focus on the development of photocurable resins doped with nanoparticles of very diverse nature, diamond, barium oxide, hydroxyapatite and silver. These nanoreinforcements are being investigated, and even applied industrially, as nanofillers of thermosetting resins, due to the different enhancements and new properties, including increased mechanical, thermal and chemical properties, high electrical and thermal conductivity, improved biocompatibility and antimicrobial properties, among others. The reinforcement of photocurable thermosetting resins can be complex since the added charge can exert shielding to the radiation, limiting to reach high curing degree. For it, it is necessary to use catalysts and sensitizers of UV radiation. In addition, in order to limit this negative effect, a high degree of dispersion of the nanofillers is required, avoiding the presence of micrometric agglomerates. An epoxy system has been selected, whose is commly used for dental applications, and differente contents of nanofillers have been added. Once the dispersion process has been optimized, the effect of the different fillers on the degree of curing of the photocurable resin, measured through its glass transition temperature, has been studied. The degree of curing achieved has been explained through transperance measurements to the visible light of the samples, as well as the morphology of the cured and doped resins.

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