PMMA-grafted nanoclay as novel filler for dental adhesives

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the benefits of incorporation of poly(methyl methacrylate)-grafted-nanoclay on the bond strength of an experimental one-bottle dentin bonding system. The effect of the modification on the stability of the nanoparticle dispersion in the dilute adhesive was also studied.Materials and methodsPoly(methyl methacrylate) was grafted onto the pristine Na-MMT nanoclay (Cloisite® Na+) through the free radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate in an aqueous media in the presence of ammonium persulfate as initiator. A reactive surfactant (AMPS) was also used in the reaction recipe to provide active sites on the surface of the nanoclay. The grafting polymerization reaction was carried out at 70 °C. The PMMA-g-nanoclay was then coagulated in methanol and filtered. The resulting PMMA-g-nanoclay was characterized using FTIR, TGA, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and particle size distribution analysis. The modified nanoclay was added to an experimental dentin bonding system as filler and the morphology of the nanoclay layers in the adhesive matrix was studied using TEM and XRD. Shear bond strength of the adhesives containing different filler contents was tested on the caries-free extracted human premolar teeth. The mode of failure was studied by scanning electron microscopy. The stability of the nanoclay dispersion in the dilute adhesive was also studied using a separation analyzer. The results were then statistically analyzed and compared.ResultsThe grafting of poly(methylmethacrylate) onto the nanoclay was confirmed and the results revealed a partially exfoliated structure for the PMMA-g-nanoclay. Incorporation of the modified nanoclay provided a dentin bonding system with higher shear bond strength. The dispersion stability of the modified nanoparticles in the dilute adhesive was also increased more than 40 times in comparison with the pristine nanoclay.SignificanceThe grafting modification provided nanoclay particles with higher dispersion stability than pristine Na-MMT nanoclay in a dilute dentin bonding system. Incorporation of the modified nanoclay into the bonding system provided higher shear bond strength. The finding would be beneficial in producing nano-filler containing adhesive systems.