Commercial acrylic bone cements are supplied as two components, a polymer powder and a liquid monomer. Mixing of the two components is followed by a progressive polymerisation of the liquid monomer to yield a solid mass, a high level of heat being generated during this exothermic reaction. The exposure of bone to high temperatures has led to incidences of bone necrosis and tissue damage, ultimately resulting in failure of the prosthetic fixation. The aim of this study was to determine the thermal properties of various acrylic bone cements as they progress through their polymerisation cycles. It was also felt that there was a need to quantify variations in the curing characteristics as a function of preparing bone cement by different techniques, hand mixing and vacuum mixing. A number of parameters were calculated using the data gathered from the investigation; peak temperature, cure temperature, cure time, and the cumulative thermal necrosis damage index. Observing the thermal characteristics of the polymethyl methacrylate bone cements assessed, it was found that particular formulations of bone cements are suited to certain m xing methodologies. It is vital that a full investigation is conducted on a cement mixing/delivery system prior to its introduction into the orthopaedic market.