DIAMETRAL TENSILE STRENGTH OF POLYMERCONTAINING CALCIUM PHOSPHATE CEMENTS

Abstract

The effect of additives such as polyvinylalcohol, polyacrylamide, acrylamide and acrylic acid on the mechanical properties of calcium phosphate cement was investigated, measuring the diametral tensile strength of the hardened cement made by pressing the cement paste. Of the additives tested, the combined use of acrylamide monomer and acrylic acid was effective to improve the mechanical properties of the hardened cement. For the cements made by pressing at various pressures (72.8-291MPa), the addition of acrylamide and acrylic acid resulted in an about 30% increase of the diametral tensile strength and an about 7% increase of the bulk density compared to the control (no additives). The hardened cement with acrylamide and acrylic acid exhibited a diametral tensile strength of 15.4 MPa as the largest values obtained.