Nanohybrid dental composite using silica from biomass waste

•Obtaining Nanohybrid silica directly in spherical form from a biomass waste using a simple technique•Fabricating dental nanocomposite using nanohybrid silica obtained from biomas waste as fillers•Experimental dental composite attaining mechanical properties that are comparable to commercial dental composites

The application of nanohybrid silica from rice husk as fillers for dental composites has been explored. Spherical nanohybrid silica with morphology ideal for use as fillers in dental composites having a low specific surface area of 30 m2/g was extracted from rice husk by a simple precipitation method using non-toxic chemicals. Experimental dental composites with two different filler/matrix ratios (Composite A: 40/60 and Composite B: 50/50) were fabricated, followed by their mechanical properties and surface roughness testing. Dental composite B showed a flexural strength of 107 MPa, flexural modulus of 6.2 GPa, compressive strength of 191 MPa, Vickers' hardness of 39 HV1 and surface roughness of 0.057 Ra. The results indicate that rice husk is an inexpensive source of silica for as fillers in nanohybrid dental composites.

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