The effects of barium sulfate on the polymerization temperature and shear strength of surgical simplex P.

Barium sulfate additive, in amounts ranging from 5% to 60%, causes a progressive reduction in polymerization temperature of the cement without appreciably altering the polymerization time. Concurrently, the mechanical strength of the cement, as determined in shear, decreases with increasing concentration of barium additive. Although inclusion of barium sulfate in acrylic bone cement is primarily used for radiographic contrast purposes, its possible effects on release of monomer and other local mechanisms seem not to have been measured.