Improved mechanical properties of acrylic bone cement with short titanium fiber reinforcement.

Acrylic bone cements are widely used in total joint arthroplasties to grout the prosthesis to bone. The changes in the tensile properties and fracture toughness of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bone cements obtained by the addition of control and heat treated short titanium fibers are studied. Heat treatment of titanium fibers is conducted to precipitate titania particles on the fiber surface to improve the biocompatibility of the metal. Control and heat treated short titanium fibers (250 micro long and 20 micro diameter) were used as reinforcements at 3 volume %. X-ray diffraction indicated the presence of a rutile form of titania due to the heat treatments. The tensile and fracture properties were improved by the addition of fibers. Bone cements reinforced with titanium fibers heated at 550 degrees C for 1 h followed by 800 degrees C for 30 minutes show the largest increase in fracture toughness along with the smallest changes in elastic modulus and needs to be further investigated.