Polymerization of acrylic bone cement using differential scanning calorimetry.

The polymerization of acrylic bone cement using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was investigated. The polymerization reaction of the acrylic bone cement was found to be an approximately first order reaction. Two kinds of reaction rate constants for the polymerization reaction were observed. Both rate constants were calculated before and after the peak time. The effects of the addition of tricalcium phosphate (TCP) on the polymerization reaction of standard Surgical Simplex-P Radiopaque Bone Cement have been investigated by DSC. The TCP content had a strong retardation effect on the rate constants. The thermal stability of the acrylic bone cement was also studied by thermogravimetric analysis.