Effect of mechanical mixing and powder to liquid ratio on the strength and reliability of a brushite bone cement

The effect of mechanical mixing on compressive strength, relative porosity and reliability of strength data of a brushite forming cement at different powder to liquid ratios (PLRs) was investigated. Mean compressive strengths were measured, associated reliability (Weibull moduli) and survival probability distributions of the data sets were analysed. Relative porosities were determined using helium pycnometry. For low PLR (2.2g/ml), no significant differences in compressive strength were observed for either mechanical or hand mixed samples, although reliability of the former was significantly increased. At high PLR (3.4g/ml), mechanically mixed cements exhibited approximately twice the mean compressive strength compared with hand mixing, although Weibull moduli remained statistically similar. At medium PLR (2.8g/ml) strength and reliability of cements were similar and independent of mixing regime. For all PLRs, a significant decrease in porosity of mechanical- compared with hand-mixed cements was observed. Mechanical mixing of a brushite cement can provide lower porosity, increased reliability and higher strength.