Mechanical properties and workability of self-hardening calcium phosphate cement as a function of the particle size distribution

In this study, the mechanical properties of a-tricalcium phosphate (alpha-TCP)-tetracalcium phosphate (TTCP)-dicalcium phosphate dehydrate (DCPD) system bone cement, was studied. This research examined the effect of changes in the particle size distribution change of the starting materials. The composition of the alpha-TCP/TTCP/DCPD system bone cement was fixed at Ca/P=1.50.20 groups of this cement were prepared with a main particle size distributions. The highest compressive strength of a specimen (PAL ratio=2.5) after curing for Mays in simulated body fluid (SBF) was 60 +/- 2 MPa. Also, we intended to improve the workability maintaining the compressive strength through the addition of TCP granules. 5 groups of cement were prepared with respect to the blending ratio between granular and powdery TCP. Even if the best compressive strength of specimen was observed in the cement without granules at a powder to liquid (P/L) ratio of 2.5, a comparable compressive strength (58.36 MPa) could also be obtained in the cement by replacing half of powdery TCP with granules by weight. However, the granular cement exhibited proper workability unlike the powder one.