Failure and fracture characteristics of glass poly(vinylphosphonate) cements

Objectives: A glass poly(vinylphosphonate) cement, Diamond Carve™, consisting of an ion leachable glass and a co-polymer of poly(vinylphosphonic-co-acrylic acid) was characterised. Samples were mixed for mechanical analysis using a linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) approach. Methods: Fracture toughness, flexural strength, Youngʹs modulus, toughness and compressive strength were measured. Cement samples were tested at ageing times of 1, 7, 28, 84 and 168 days. Results: Fracture toughness values in the range 0.6–0.82 MPa√m were obtained. Youngʹs modulus increased with ageing time from 8.6 GPa at one day to 14.3 GPa at 168 days. An increase in compressive strength from 149 to 242 MPa was also observed over the same time period. Significance: The influence of ageing time had a significant effect on the mechanical properties of the cement. The expected rise in the mechanical properties was observed as a result of the ongoing crosslinking in the polysalt matrix.