Improvement of mechanical properties of acrylic bone cement by fiber reinforcement.

Acrylic bone cement is significantly weaker and less stiff than compact bone. Bone cement is also weaker in tension than in compression. This limits its use in orthopaedics to areas where tensile stresses are minimum. We have attempted to improve the mechanical properties of PMMA by reinforcing it with metal wires, and graphite and aramid fibers. Normal, carbon fiber reinforced and aramid fiber reinforced bone cement specimens were tested in compression. Addition of a small percentage (1-2% by weight for carbon and up to 6% for aramid) of these fibers improved the mechanical properties significantly. Due to the improved mechanical properties of fiber reinforced bone cement, its clinical use may reduce the incidence of cement fracture and thus loosening of the prosthesis.