Cumhuriyet Dental Journal (Jan 2016)
Effects of the addition of titanium dioxide and silaned silica nanoparticles on the color stability of a maxillofacial silicone elastomer submitted to artificial aging
Abstract
Objectives: Silicone elastomers require replacement due to degradation of mechanicalproperties and deterioration in color over time. Recently, various nanoparticles have beenincorporated into the silicones to reinforce their physical and mechanical properties. Thepurpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of nanosized particle addition on the colorstability of a commercial RTV maxillofacial silicone elastomer submitted to an accelerated aging.Materials and Methods: The nanosized particles (titanium dioxide and silaned silica) wereadded, 10% by volume, into a maxillofacial elastomer. The samples (n=10) were polymerized in anoven according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Color measurements were performedusing digital spectrophotometry according to the CIE L*a*b* color system. The samples weresubsequently placed into an aging chamber for 168 h. The second color measurement of thesamples was performed after the aging process. Data obtained from the measurement wasrecorded and assessed by (ANOVA) (α=0.05).Results: The highest color stability was obtained with the silica and the TiO2 group samples;the lowest color stability was obtained with the control group samples in this study. However;no statistically significant difference in discoloration was observed in the ΔE values between thegroups (p > 0.05).Conclusions: The results of this pilot study revealed that the addition of nanosized TiO2and silica particles used as reinforcing agents did not cause any color degradation of anA-2000 silicone during the first 2 months. Further studies should be done on the effect of suchnanoparticles in long term aging procedures on the color stability of maxillofacial elastomers.
