Compliance of a Calcium Phosphate Cement with Some Short-term Clinical Requirements

Abstract

Short-term clinical requirements proposed for calcium phosphate cements are: (1) initial setting time between 4 and 8 min, (2) final setting time between 10 and 15 min, (3) maximum attainable strength, and (4) attainment of this maximum strength within the shortest possible time. From previous studies it was known that the setting times of a calcium phosphate cement made of α-TCP could be controlled by using solutions of Na2HPO4 as cement liquid and that the strength could be improved by controlling the milling. Combinations of these factors were used to find out whether the cement derived from α-TCP could be brought to complete compliance. It could be concluded: (a) that compliance to requirements 1 and 2 simultaneously was possible, (b) that this caused a drop in the maximum compressive strength from 70 to 45 MPa, and (c) that at body temperature the maximum strength is achieved much faster than at room temperature.