Influence of mixing techniques on the physical properties of acrylic bone cement

Palaces R-(R) bone cement was prepared using three commercially available m ixing techniques, first generation, second generation and third generation, to determine the mechanical properties and porosity contents of the bone c ement. The compressive strengths, bending strengths and flexural moduli wer e expressed as a function of void content. The volume of pores within the c ement structure was found to be a contributing factor to the physical prope rties of acrylic bone cement. The lower the volume of voids in the cement t he better the compressive and flexural properties, hence stronger bone ceme nt. It was found that the best results were obtained from cement that had b een mixed using the Mitab Optivac (R) or Summit HiVac (R) Syringe systems a t a reduced pressure level of between -72 and -86kPa below atmospheric pres sure, resulting in cement of porosity 1.44-3.17%; compressive strength 74-8 1 MPa; flexural modulus 2.54-2.60 GPa; and flexural strength 65-73 MPa. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.