Ln. Molino et Ldt. Topoleski, EFFECT OF BASO4 ON THE FATIGUE-CRACK PROPAGATION RATE OF PMMA BONE-CEMENT, Journal of biomedical materials research, 31(1), 1996, pp. 131-137
To determine the effect of BaSO4 on the fatigue crack growth rate, da/
dN=C(Delta K)(n), of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) bone cement, rad
iopaque bone cement, radiolucent bone cement, and commercial PMMA (Ple
xiglas(R)) were tested using a methodology based on ASTM E647. The cra
ck growth rate of radiopaque bone cement was one order of magnitude le
ss than that of radiolucent. Fractographic analysis showed that the re
gions of rapid catastrophic fracture were smooth for all materials tes
ted. The radiopaque fatigue surface was rough and characterized by rag
ged-edged stacked plateaus, a morphology consistent with the model of
crack propagation through the interbead matrix. Voids were visible in
the interbead matrix on the order of the size of BaSO4 particles. The
fatigue surface of radiolucent bone cement was relatively smooth, a mo
rphology consistent with crack propagation through both the PMMA beads
and interbead matrix. Fatigue striations were visible, and their spac
ing correlated well with crack propagation rates. The striations indic
ated an increased crack growth rate through the PMMA beads. (C) 1996 J
ohn Wiley & Sons, Inc.