title: Influence of multiwall carbon nanotube functionality and loading on mechanical properties of PMMA/MWCNT bone cements.
abstract: Poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) bone cement-multi walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) nanocomposites with weight loadings ranging from 0.1 to 1.0 wt% were prepared. The MWCNTs investigated were unfunctionalised, carboxyl and amine functionalised MWCNTs. Mechanical properties of the resultant nanocomposite cements were characterised as per international standards for acrylic resin cements. These mechanical properties were influenced by the type and wt% loading of MWCNT used. The morphology and degree of dispersion of the MWCNTs in the PMMA matrix at different length scales were examined using field emission scanning electron microscopy. Improvements in mechanical properties were attributed to the MWCNTs arresting/retarding crack propagation through the cement by providing a bridging effect and hindering crack propagation. MWCNTs agglomerations were evident within the cement microstructure, the degree of these agglomerations was dependent on the weight fraction and functionality of MWCNTs incorporated into the cement.
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast, UK.
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ormsby
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: McNally
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dunne
mesh_terms: D001843:Bone Cements / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D019245:Compressive Strength; D008422:Materials Testing; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000737:chemistry*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties; D013718:Tensile Strength; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D001843:Bone Cements; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate