Effect of Sodium Carbonate Solution on Self-setting Properties of Tricalcium Silicate Bone Cement

Abstract

In this study, the effects of sodium carbonate (Na2CO3 ) solution with different concentrations (10, 15, 20, and 25 wt%) as liquid phase on the setting time and compressive strength of tricalcium silicate bone cements are investigated. The in vitro bioactivity and degradability of the resultant Ca3SiO5-Na2CO3 solution paste was also studied. The results indicate that as the concentration of Na2CO3 solution varies from 0 to 25 wt%, the initial and final setting time of the cement decrease significantly from 90 to 20 min and from 180 to 45min, respectively. After setting for 24 h, the compressive strength of Ca3SiO5-Na2CO3 solution paste reaches 5.1MPa, which is significantly higher than that of Ca 3SiO5-water cement system. The in vitro bioactivity of the cements is investigated by soaking in simulated body fluid (SBF) for 7 days. The results show that the Ca3SiO5-Na2CO 3 solution bone cement has a good bioactivity and can degrade in Ringer's solution. The results indicate that Na2CO3 solution as a liquid phase significantly improves the self-setting properties of Ca 3SiO5 cement as compared to water. The Ca3SiO 5 cement paste prepared using Na2CO3 solution shows good bioactivity and moderate degradability, and the Ca3SiO 5-Na2CO3 solution system may be used as degradable and bioactive bone defect filling materials.