Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-4rdrl Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-18T20:24:02.206Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Mini Short-Rod Fracture Toughness Testing of Bone Cements Exhibitng Elastic-Plastic Behaviour

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2011

C. T. Wang  and
R. M. Pilliar
C. T. Wang
Affiliation:
Centre for Biomaterials, University of Toronto, 124 Edward ST., Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5B 1G6
R. M. Pilliar
Affiliation:
Centre for Biomaterials, University of Toronto, 124 Edward ST., Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5B 1G6
Get access

Abstract

Fracture of bone cement is considered to be a major factor contributing to total joint replacement failures because of implant loosening. While plane-strain fracture toughness (Klc) provides a parameter for assessing fracture resistance, the standard methods for testing (ASTM E399) require (1) the use of specimens greater than a certain minimum size (for bone cement this minimum size is greater than that found in clinical applications) and (2) fatigue precracking of specimens prior to testing. The short-rod fracture toughness test proposed by Barker offers a method of testing not requiring fatigue precracking and furthermore, it appears that a valid fracture toughness value can be determined using a modified miniature test specimen that we have proposed. Our mini short-rod specimen size approaches the actual dimensions of bone cement as used clinically. In this study mini short-rod fracture toughness test specimens were used to assess fracture toughness for two commercial brands of bone cement (Simplex-P and Zimmer LVC). An elastic-plastic fracture mechanics (EPFM) analysis was used to obtain experimental results with a plasticity correction factor being introduced. The cements were assessed as a function of method of preparation (hand mixed versus centrifuged) and aging conditions (3 days in air versus 7 days in distilled water at 37° C). The results indicated that (1) true fracture toughness values could be obtained only using an EPFM analysis for these specimens, (2) centrifugation did not significantly affect fracture toughness and (3) a significant difference in the plasticity correction factor due to water aging at 37° C was indicated for only the hand-mixed Zimmer LVC cement. There was, however, no significant change in fracture toughness due to water aging.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 110: Symposium M – Biomedical Materials and Devices , 1987 , 571
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1988

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Weber, F.A. and Charnley, J., J. Bone Jt. Surg., B57, 297 (1975).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2. Sharkey, N.A. and Barger, W.C., Trans. 33rd. Annual Meeting of the Orth. Res. Soc., 12, 55 (1987).Google Scholar
3. Pilliar, R.M., Vowles, R. and Williams, D.F., J. Biomed. Mater. Res., 21,145 (1987).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4. Barker, L.M., Int. J. of Frac., 15, 515, (1979).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5. Brauer, G.M., Steinberger, D.R. and Stansbury, J.W., J. Biomed. Mater. Res., 20, 839 (1986).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6. Newman, J.C. Jr, ASTM STP, 85, 5 (1984).Google Scholar
7. Kobayashi, A. and Ohtani, N., J. Applied Polymer. Sci, 24, 2255 (1979).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8. Rimnac, C.M., Wright, T.M. and McGill, K.L., J. Bone Jt. Surg., A68,281 (1986).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9. Weber, S.C. and Barbar, W.L., Biomat., Med. Dev., Art. Org., 11, 3 (1983).Google Scholar
1O. Freitag, T.A. and Cannon, S.L., J. Biomed. Mater. Res., 10, 805 (1976); 1, 609 (1977).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11. Wang, C.T. and Pilliar, R.M., unpublished results.Google Scholar