Titanate Couplers for Dental Composites Construction

Abstract

Silane coupling agent is a dominant coupler that is extensively used in dental applications to promote adhesion among the components of dental composites.  Due to their similar ordered structure, silica-based fillers are easily silanized. In the aqueous oral environment, however, silane is hydrolytically degraded and bonds inefficiently to non-silica fillers. Therefore, the enhancement of hydrolytically stable dental composites is an essential goal in the research on dental materials. The composites using titanate coupling agents (TCAs) have increased interfacial bonding, homogeneous filler dispersion, and mechanical characteristics. Titanates also have better hydrolytic stability in wet environments, which is something to keep in mind while making dental composites. The inclusion of a little amount of titanates can increase the composites' moisture resistance. This chapter reviews the effects of the instability of silanes in moisture on the performance of dental composites and presents TCAs as alternative couplers to silanes for constructing dental composites.