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Ageing and moisture uptake in polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) bone cements
- Source :
- Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials
- Publisher :
- The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
-
Abstract
- Bone cements are extensively employed in orthopaedics for joint arthroplasty, however implant failure in the form of aseptic loosening is known to occur after long-term use. The exact mechanism causing this is not well understood, however it is thought to arise from a combination of fatigue and chemical degradation resulting from the hostile in vivo environment. In this study, two commercial bone cements were aged in an isotonic fluid at physiological temperatures and changes in moisture uptake, microstructure and mechanical and fatigue properties were studied. Initial penetration of water into the cement followed Fickian diffusion and was thought to be caused by vacancies created by leaching monomer. An increase in weight of approximately 2% was experienced after 30 days ageing and was accompanied by hydrolysis of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) in the outermost layers of the cement. This molecular change and the plasticising effect of water resulted in reduced mechanical and fatigue properties over time. Cement ageing is therefore thought to be a key contributor in the long-term failure of cemented joint replacements. The results from this study have highlighted the need to develop cements capable of withstanding long-term degradation and for more accurate test methods, which fully account for physiological ageing.<br />Graphical abstract<br />Highlights • Two commercial bone cements were aged in Ringer's solution at 37 °C for 60 days. • Moisture uptake, mechanical, fatigue and microstructural properties were studied. • A maximum of 2% change in weight occurred due to Fickian diffusion after 30 days. • Hydrolysis of PMMA and reduced mechanical and fatigue properties were observed. • Cement degradation is thought to contribute to the failure of cemented implants.
- Subjects :
- musculoskeletal diseases
Time Factors
Materials science
Biomedical Engineering
Mechanical properties
Biomaterials
Diffusion
chemistry.chemical_compound
Hardness
Materials Testing
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Transition Temperature
Composite material
Methyl methacrylate
Fatigue
Cement
Moisture
Viscosity
Hydrolysis
Bone Cements
technology, industry, and agriculture
Water
Penetration (firestop)
Models, Theoretical
Microstructure
Bone cement
equipment and supplies
chemistry
Mechanics of Materials
Ageing
Biodegradation
TJ
Leaching (metallurgy)
Porosity
RD
Research Paper
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 17516161
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....85410f051776d7f84ec1a29160de3af8
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmbbm.2013.12.010