Silica-filled methacrylic composites with extremely high compressive strength.

SYLOID® 244 has never been applied as a filler in composites with potential dental application. Therefore, the aim of research was to apply this silica in its unmodified and diazonium salt-modified forms in different mass ratios as fillers in light-cured methacrylic composites. The effectiveness of modification process was confirmed with the use of Raman spectroscopy. Methacrylic composites with the modified and unmodified SYLOID® 244, as well as unfilled resin as a control group were prepared. Their basic physicochemical properties, such as depth of cure, mass stability during incubation in saline, flexural and compressive strengths were examined. A positive effect of SYLOID® 244 modification on the properties of the examined composites was also demonstrated. The obtained results proved the high applicability of SYLOID® 244 as a filler in composites with potential dental applications.