Morphochemical characterization, microhardness, water sorption, and solubility of regular viscosity bulk fill and traditional composite resins

• Published in: Microscopy research and technique Vol. 82; no. 9; pp. 1500 - 1506
• Main Authors: Melo, Rafaela A., Bispo, Andressa de Souza Leite, Barbosa, Gustavo A. S., Galvão, Marilia R., Assunção, Isauremi V., Souza, Rodrigo O de Assunção, Borges, Boniek C. D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, USA John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01-09-2019; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Chemical composition; Chemical elements; Composite materials; composite resins; Diamond pyramid hardness; microhardness; Morphology; Organic chemistry; Particulate composites; Physical properties; Polymers; Resins; Scanning electron microscopy; Solubility; Sorption; Spectroscopy; Variance analysis; Viscosity; water sorption; solubility; composite resins; microhardness; water sorption
• ISSN: 1059-910X; 1097-0029
• DOI: 10.1002/jemt.23315

Objective
To evaluate the morphology of filler particles, chemical composition, microhardness (MH), water sorption (WSp), and solubility (WSl) of a regular viscosity bulk fill and traditional composite resins.
Methods
Eighty samples (Ø:5 mm; height: 4 mm) were prepared according to the factors “composite” (Aura/SDI, FiltekZ250 XT/3M, Aura Bulk Fill/SDI, and Filtek Bulk Fill/3M) and “filling technique” (incremental and bulk) (n = 10). Vickers MH was measured on the top and bottom surfaces of each samples, and then WSp and WSl were obtained by means of mass gain and loss. Morphology of filler particles and chemical characteristics of composites were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersity spectroscopy (EDS) in additional samples (n = 1/group). Data were analyzed using two‐ and three‐way ANOVA and Tukey's tests (p < .05).
Results
No significant difference was found for WSp among the groups. Comparing composites in the incremental technique, Aura bulk fill composite showed lower WSI than the other materials and in the bulk fill technique, Filtek Bulk Fill showed the lowest value. Filtek Bulk Fill showed higher MH than the other composites on the bottom surface when samples were produced by bulk filling.
Conclusion
The composites presented good physical properties, but the bulk fill ones showed better results for the bottom microhardness and solubility, although chemical elements and morphology were similar in general.
The composites presented good physical properties but the bulk fill ones showed better results for the bottom microhardness and solubility. The composites presented predominantly filler particles irregularly shaped and of different sizes.