Polymeric Calcium Phosphate Cements: Analysis of Reaction Products and Properties

Chemical and mechanical properties of water-based polymeric calcium phosphate cements (PCPC) were investigated. These cements were derived from mixing several types of water-soluble polymers, e.g., gelatin, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), and poly(alkenoic acids) such as poly(acrylic acid), with a calcium phosphate cement (CPC) mixture consisting of equimolar amounts of tetracalcium phosphate (TTCP) and anhydrous dicalcium phosphate (DCPA) as well as several other TTCP-containing mixtures. Cement formation was observed with all of the PCPCs. With the gelatin and PVA cements, significant amounts of hydroxyapatite (HA) formation were observed within 24 h. Their setting times and mechanical properties were similar to those of the purely inorganic CPC that is derived from the reaction of TTCP and DCPA in water. Although the mechanical properties of a gelatin-CPC cement were only slightly improved, its handling characteristics were superior to that of CPC. Significantly faster setting and stronger cements were obtained using polycarboxylic acid polymers with CPC. However, only small amounts of HA were observed in these types of polymeric cements even after 1 mon storage in distilled water at 37 degrees C. This research demonstrates the feasibility of preparing several new types of dental cements based on the interaction of water-soluble polymers with a self-setting calcium phosphate powder mixture.