Le Roux, Andre RayneLachman, NirushaWalker, MarkBotha, T.2011-01-212011-01-212008http://hdl.handle.net/10321/567Originally published in: South African dental journal, November 2008, Vol. 63, No. 10, 2008.Introduction: Incorporating a feldspar chemical bond between alumina filler particles is expected to increase the wear-resistant and flexural strength properties. Aims and Objectives: An investigation was carried out to evaluate the influence of the feldspar chemical bonding between alumina filler particles on wear and flexural strength of experimental alumina/feldspar dental composites. It was hypothesized that wear resistance and flexural strength would be significantly increased with increased feldspar mass. Methods: Alumina was chemically sintered and bonded with 30% and 60% feldspar mass, silanized and infiltrated with UDMA resin to prepare the dental restorative composite material. Results and conclusions: Higher wear-resistant characteristics resulted with increased feldspar mass of up to 60% (p<0.05). Higher flexural strength characteristics resulted as the feldspar mass was increased up to 60% (p>0.05). Feldspar chemical bonding between the alumina particles may improve on the wear-resistance and flexural strength of alumina/ feldspar composites.544-549 (6 p.)enDentistryFeldspar chemical bondingAlumina filler particlesWear resistanceArticle