Jp. Moseley et al., The development and characterization of a fracture-toughened acrylic for luting total joint arthroplasties, J BIOMED MR, 47(4), 1999, pp. 529-536
An autopolymerizing fracture-toughened acrylic lute was developed utilizing
a toughened prepolymer and a gel-polymerization method. Samples for mechan
ical and chemical characterization were molded from this material and from
untoughened controls. Mechanical testing showed that the mode I fracture to
ughness (K-IC) of the toughened lute was increased by 163% over that of the
untoughened acrylic controls while the compressive strength and modulus we
re decreased by 36% and 34%, respectively. The flexural properties of the e
xperimental material were not adversely affected. Analysis of molecular wei
ght and residual monomer data for the experimental and control materials de
monstrated that the increase in toughness was due to the presence of the to
ughened prepolymer. The use of the gel polymerization process gave excellen
t homogeneity with very low porosity for the experimental polymer, but it r
esulted in a significant increase in the residual monomer concentration due
to the absence of a dispersed phase of prepolymer remnants. This raises qu
estions concerning tissue response to the experimental system. (C) 1999 Joh
n Wiley & Sons, Inc.