RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of organosilane content on the physicochemical properties of model composites formulated with nano-sized fillers. METHODS: Model composites were formulated with dimethacrylate-based monomers, a photoinitiator/co-initiator system and silicon dioxide nano-sized fillers treated with different amounts of 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTS): 1.0 (G1%), 2.0 (G2%), 5.0 (G5%), 7.5 (G7.5%) and 10 (G10%) wt.% relative to SiO2. Non-silanized fillers (G0%) were used in the control group. Degree of conversion (DC) was assessed by Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). Knoop hardness (KHN) and elastic modulus were determined before and after water storage for 4 months. Water sorption (Wsp) and solubility (Wsl) were calculated by successive mass determinations in analytical balance. Surface gloss and roughness were characterized before and after toothbrushing simulation. RESULTS: With the exception of those fillers treated with 1% MPTS, DC was not dependent on the silane content. Within the silanized groups, G1% showed the lowest initial and final KHN, without statistical difference from G0%. The elastic modulus was not affected by the silane content, regardless of the storage condition, but those groups formulated with at least 5% silane presented improved values after storage. Silane content did not affect the WSl, but affected Wsp, in which those groups formulated with at least 2 wt.% of MPTS produced a more resistant material than G0%. The use of treated particles with at least 2 wt.% of silane was able to produce materials that did not change their gloss after the brushing process. Additionally, these materials presented lower surface roughness than G0% after the brushing process (p < 0.05). SIGNIFICANCE: The concentration of MPTS affected the physicochemical properties of nano-filled composites. Therefore, 2 wt.% of silane was the optimized quantity to produce materials resistant to degradation, both in bulk and surface properties.