Bromine-containing methacrylate, 2-(2-bromoisobutyryloxy) ethyl methacrylate (BIEM), had been used in the formulation of acrylic radiopaque cements. The effect of this monomer incorporated into the liquid phase of acrylic bone cement (ABC), on the curing parameters, thermal properties, water absorption, density, compression tests and radiopacity was studied. A decrease of maximum temperature and an increase of the setting time were observed with the addition of the brominecontaining monomer in the radiolucent cement composition. Adding BIEM in radiolucent ABCs composition results in the decrease of glass transition temperature and increase in its thermal stability. The ABCs modified with bromine-containing comonomer are characterized by polymerization shrinkage lower than the radiolucent cement. Addition of bromine-containing comonomer in radiolucent ABC composition determines the increase of compressive strength. The ABCs modified with brominecontaining comonomer proved to be radiopaque.

One important issue for the acrylic bone cements concerns the radiopacity, which may be achieved by different ways. In this work, a new bromine-containing acrylic monomer, the 2-(2-bromopropionyloxy) propyl methacrylate (BPPM), was synthesized and proposed to be used for providing radiopaque bone cements. Different acrylic bone cements were realized by partially replacing the methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer phase with 5-20% w/w of BPPM-comonomer. The effect of this comonomer on the curing parameters of acrylic bone cements, on their thermal and rheological properties, water absorption, density, contact angle, compression tests, and radiopacity was studied. It appears that the presence of BPPM does provide radiopacity, improves the curing parameters by decreasing the maximum curing temperature and increasing the setting time. The new BPPM-acrylic bone cements exhibit lower glass transition temperature and better thermal stability when compared with the classical radiolucent acrylic cements. Rheological measurements have shown that 10-20% w/w of BPPM in the liquid phase of acrylic bone cement formulations increase its flexibility, and may also induce a slight crosslinking reaction during the curing phase. BPPM-modified acrylic bone cements present lower polymerization shrinkage and higher compression strength, and similar water uptake, porosity, and water contact angle as the radiolucent PMMA-cements.

Bromine-containing methacrylate, 2-(2-bromopropionyloxy) ethyl methacrylate (BPEM), had been used in the formulation of acrylic radiopaque cements. The effect of this monomer incorporated into the liquid phase of acrylic bone cement, on the curing parameters, thermal properties, water absorption, density, compression tests and radiopacity was studied. A decrease of maximum temperature and an increase of the setting time were observed with the addition of the bromine-containing monomer in the radiolucent cement composition. Adding BPEM in radiolucent acrylic bone cements composition results in the decrease of glass transition temperature and increase of its thermal stability. Acrylic bone cements modified with bromine-containing comonomer are characterized by polymerization shrinkage lower than the radiolucent cement. Addition of bromine-containing comonomer in radiolucent acrylic bone cement composition determines the increase of compressive strength. Acrylic bone cements modified with bromine-containing comonomer proved to be radiopaque.