title: Thermodynamical aspects of the polymerization reaction of PMMA cement mixed with phosphatic mineral phases.
abstract: The main problem related to the use of polymeric cement in orthopaedics is the high temperature reached during the polymerization, causing necrosis. This paper reports a thermodynamical study of the polymerization reaction of an acrylic cement mixed with powdered phosphatic phases. In particular, mixing of alpha-tricalciumphosphate, beta-tricalciumphosphate and hydroxyapatite was proposed. Important preliminary results indicated that amounts of about 66% by weight of alpha-tricalciumphosphate reduced the polymerization temperature to about 58 degrees C in respect to 100 degrees C of pure acrylic cement. In addition, a special chamber was designed and realized to monitor the temperature variations involved during the polymerization reaction of the different mixtures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mineralogical Sciences, University of Bologna.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mongiorgi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Valdrè
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giardino
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maggi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Prati
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bertocchi
mesh_terms: D001843:Bone Cements / Q000737:chemistry*; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry*; D008768:Methylmethacrylates / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers; D013696:Temperature; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D001843:Bone Cements; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D008768:Methylmethacrylates; D011108:Polymers; C485828:alpha-tricalcium phosphate; C485817:beta-tricalcium phosphate; C485830:tetracalcium phosphate; C485838:calcium phosphate, monobasic, anhydrous; C020243:calcium phosphate; C018392:tricalcium phosphate; C485829:calcium phosphate, dibasic, anhydrous