Influence of mixing techniques on the physical properties of acrylic bone cement

Palacos R® bone cement was prepared using three commercially available mixing techniques, first generation, second generation and third generation, to determine the mechanical properties and porosity contents of the bone cement. The compressive strengths, bending strengths and flexural moduli were expressed as a function of void content. The volume of pores within the cement structure was found to be a contributing factor to the physical properties of acrylic bone cement. The lower the volume of voids in the cement the better the compressive and flexural properties, hence stronger bone cement. It was found that the best results were obtained from cement that had been mixed using the Mitab Optivac® or Summit HiVac® Syringe systems at a reduced pressure level of between −72 and −86 kPa below atmospheric pressure, resulting in cement of porosity 1.44–3.17%; compressive strength 74–81 MPa; flexural modulus 2.54–2.60 GPa; and flexural strength 65–73 MPa.