title: Adhesion enhancement of steel fibers to acrylic bone cement through a silane coupling agent.
abstract: The use of a silane coupling agent (methacryloxypropyl-trichlorosilane) to improve the mechanical properties of steel fiber-reinforced acrylic bone cements was assessed. Changes to the tensile and fracture properties of bone cements reinforced with silane-coated or uncoated 316L stainless steel fibers of different aspect ratios were studied. Contact-angle measurements indicated that the coupling agent coats the metal surface through room temperature treatments in a short time (within 2 h). Push-out tests indicated that the interfacial shear strength of silane-coated 316L stainless steel rods is 141% higher than the uncoated rods. The elastic moduli, ultimate stresses, and fracture toughness of the silane-coated, steel fiber-reinforced bone cements are significantly higher than the bone cements reinforced with uncoated steel fibers. There were no differences in the tensile mechanical properties of the silane-coated or uncoated, steel fiber-reinforced cements after aging in a physiological saline solution, indicating that the bonding effectiveness is decreased by the intrusion of water at the metal-polymer interface. Because of possible biocompatibility issues with leaching of the silane coupling agent and no long-term mechanical benefit in simulated aging experiments, the use of these agents is not recommended for in vivo use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 650 East 25th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64018, USA. kothas@umkc.edu
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Kotha
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lieberman
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vickers
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Mason
mesh_terms: D000268:Adhesiveness; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001843:Bone Cements; D004548:Elasticity; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D012821:Silanes; D013232:Steel; D013499:Surface Properties; D013718:Tensile Strength
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001843:Bone Cements; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D012821:Silanes; D013232:Steel