Comparison Between Different Syntesis Methods of PMMA/HA Using Ultrasonic Radiation

Summary: The use of PMMA as dental and osseous cement and also in the fabrication of intraocular lenses has been widely reported. The combination of its excellent properties with those of hydroxyapatite (HA) to form a composite material, can result in very interesting properties as a biomaterial. The key is to obtain a good filler dispersion and interface bonding. Ultrasonic radiation seems to be a very versatile method for the synthesis of these materials, since the use of conventional initiators can be avoided, the filler dispersion improved and the interface interaction can be promoted. In the present work PMMA/HA composite materials were prepared by three different synthesis routes using ultrasonic radiation, in order to study the effect of the synthesis method on the final microstructure. Method I : in situ synthesis of PMMA and HA, under ultrasonic radiation by emulsion polymerization of MMA and HA precursors. Method II : in situ synthesis of HA, (from its precursors) by high frequency ultrasound in commercial PMMA solution Method III : in situ polymerization of MMA under high frequency ultrasonic radiation and adding HA to the solution and Method IV Mixing of hydroxyapatite nanocrystals, in different proportions, in a solution of commercial PMMA, by different periods from 10 min to 7 h, under low frequency (conventional) ultrasonic radiation, to compare the effect of high frequency and conventional ultrasound radiation. The different materials were characterized by FTIR, SEM, TEM, DRX, ¹H NMR and TGA. The results showed that, all the composites prepared by in situ synthesis showed an interaction between HA and PMMA, manifested by a bonding of the phosphate groups with the polar groups of the polymer matrix observed by FTIR. On the other hand, when the synthesis was carried out simultaneously adding HA and PMMA precursors a inhibition of the polymerization reaction of MMA was observed.