The surface area of aggregates applied to dental materials.

There is a continuing need for the complete characterization of the physical and chemical properties of dental materials. Among these properties is surface area. The problem is further complicated by the fact that most dental materials are, themselves, mixtures of two or more identifiable components. If the vapor adsorptive properties of these components are different in the mixture from that which would be expected of them collectively, then interaction is present. Interaction must not be confused with the lack of addivity which results from the limitations of the BET theory applied to mixtures. Equations are derived herein to estimate the extent of this latter source of variability and to correct for it giving a "true" surface area for the aggregate. Conversely, the adsorptive properties of either component can be calculated from the properties of the mixture and the remaining component together with the percentage composition. An immediate application can be made in determining the water-vapor adsorptive properties of human dentinal collagen without necessitating its removal from dentin. Any attempt to extract it chemically may produce denaturation or chain rupture thus precluding the possibility of direct determination. In the case of nitrogen adsorption, however, interaction definitely is indicated.