PLASMA POLYMERIZATION FOR SELF-CURING PMMA BONE-CEMENT

In this study two experimental methods were used to improve the tensil e strength of self-curing PMMA bone cement: plasma-induced and plasma- state polymerization. A procedure was also developed for room temperat ure self-curing of PMMA resin. Experimental samples of cement were tes ted for tensile strength. The tensile test results indicate that addit ions of PMMA powder reduce the strength of self-curing PMMA bone cemen t. Plasma-induced PMMA can increase the molecular weight of an MMA and PMMA matrix; however, the matrix tensile strength does not increase a s much as would be expected from its greater molecular weight. The low er values were most probably due to an extremely high viscosity matrix . The most significant finding is that plasma-treated zirconium oxide powder can improve the tensile strength of self-curing PMMA bone cemen t.