Abstract
This study aimed to modify an EQUIA coat (EC; GC, Japan) by incorporating 1 and 2 wt.% of zinc oxide (ZnO; EC-Z1 and EC-Z2) and titanium dioxide (TiO2; EC-T1 and EC-T2) nanoparticles, whereby structural and phase analyses were assessed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. Thermogravimetric analysis/differential scanning calorimetry, micro-hardness, and water absorption analyses were conducted, and the microstructure was studied by scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive spectroscopy. FTIR spectra showed a reduction in peak heights of amide (1521 cm(-1)) and carbonyl (1716 cm(-1)) groups. XRD showed peaks of ZnO (2 theta ~ 31.3 degrees, 34.0 degrees, 35.8 degrees, 47.1 degrees, 56.2 degrees, 62.5 degrees, 67.6 degrees, and 68.7 degrees) and TiO2 (2 theta ~ 25.3 degrees, 37.8 degrees, 47.9, 54.5 degrees, 62.8 degrees, 69.5 degrees, and 75.1 degrees) corresponding to a hexagonal phase with a wurtzite structure and an anatase phase, respectively. Thermal stability was improved in newly modified materials in comparison to the control group. The sequence of obtained glass transitions was EC-T2 (111 degrees C), EC-T1 (102 degrees C), EC-Z2 (98 degrees C), EC-Z1 (92 degrees C), and EC-C (90 degrees C). EC-T2 and EC-T1 showed the highest (43.76 +/- 2.78) and lowest (29.58 +/- 3.2) micro-hardness values. EC showed the maximum water absorption (1.6%) at day 7 followed by EC-T1 (0.82%) and EC-Z1 (0.61%). These results suggest that EC with ZnO and TiO2 nanoparticles has the potential to be used clinically as a coating material.