Radiopaque acrylic bone cement with bromine-containing acrylic monomer. II

Abstract Bromine-containing methacrylate, 2-(2-bromoisobutyryloxy) ethyl methacrylate (BIEM), had been used in the formulation of acrylic radiopaque cements. The effect of this monomer incorporated into the liquid phase of acrylic bone cement (ABC), on the curing parameters, thermal properties, water absorption, density, compression tests and radiopacity was studied. A decrease of maximum temperature and an increase of the setting time were observed with the addition of the brominecontaining monomer in the radiolucent cement composition. Adding BIEM in radiolucent ABCs composition results in the decrease of glass transition temperature and increase in its thermal stability. The ABCs modified with bromine-containing comonomer are characterized by polymerization shrinkage lower than the radiolucent cement. Addition of bromine-containing comonomer in radiolucent ABC composition determines the increase of compressive strength. The ABCs modified with brominecontaining comonomer proved to be radiopaque.