Test methodEssential work of fracture: An approach to study the fracture behavior of acrylic bone cements modified with comonomers containing amine groups

The fracture behavior of acrylic bone cements modified with comonomers containing amine groups was studied using the essential work of fracture approach. The cements were prepared with either 2-(diethylamino)ethyl-acrylate (DEAEA), 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl-methacrylate (DMAEM) or 2-(diethylamino)ethyl-methacrylate (DEAEM) as comonomer in the liquid phase. Double-Edge-Notched Tensión (DENT) specimens were tested in a universal testing machine at 5 mm/min. The results showed that the essential work (we) and nonspecific value of fracture (βwp) of bone cements modified with all percentages of comonomer were notably increased compared with unmodified bone cement. From Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) micrographs, ductile behavior was observed for modified bone cements, i.e. the crack propagation is stable, whereas the unmodified cement exhibited brittle behavior indicating unstable crack propagation. The use of the essential work of fracture approach is suggested to determine the fracture behavior of cements that do not exhibit a linear stress-strain relationship.