Silane Coupling Agent
Pronunciation: SY-lane KUP-ling AY-jent
A bifunctional chemical applied to ceramic or glass-ceramic surfaces to create a chemical bond with resin-based cements or bonding materials.
Full Definition
A silane coupling agent is an organosilane molecule that reacts with both the hydroxyl groups on a ceramic surface and the organic matrix of a resin cement, forming a durable covalent bond. In dental laboratory contexts, silanisation is routinely performed on the intaglio surface of ceramic restorations prior to cementation. Editors working in dental lab literature should distinguish silane from bonding agent and from sandblasting, all of which are surface-treatment steps that may occur in sequence. The term is sometimes abbreviated colloquially as 'silane' in lab notes and prescriptions.
Usage
Usage note: Do not abbreviate to 'silane agent' in formal documentation; the full phrase 'silane coupling agent' is preferred in technical writing.
In Context
- "The laboratory protocol requires application of silane coupling agent to all pressed ceramic surfaces before dispatch." — Laboratory protocol document
- "Omission of the silane coupling agent step was identified as the cause of premature debonding in the case review." — Quality assurance report