Pastefilled

Pastefilled is a term used in materials science and related fields to describe a process or class of materials in which a paste-like substance is used to fill voids, channels, or porosities within a substrate. The designation combines paste with filled, signaling that the paste is intended to occupy and seal space within a structure, often followed by curing or solidification to form a cohesive composite.

Context and usage: In dentistry, paste-filled techniques may refer to the placement of filling pastes, such as resin-based or cementitious pastes, to restore tooth cavities or fissures, typically followed by curing. In civil and aerospace materials, paste-filled processes involve injecting or extruding ceramic or metal pastes into porous substrates to reduce porosity, improve strength, or create conductive pathways. In electronics, conductive or insulating pastes can be used to fill through-holes or voids in substrates prior to sintering or curing.

Process: The typical workflow includes substrate preparation, paste formulation with a specified viscosity, controlled application (syringe, nozzle, or dipping), and a curing or drying stage. The paste composition—cementitious, polymeric, or metal—determines curing temperature, shrinkage, and final mechanical properties.

Properties and challenges: Workable viscosity, capillary action, shrinkage upon curing, film thickness, and potential for microcracking.

See also: filler materials, paste extrusion, potting, infiltration, composite processing.