Cement-cement interfaces were created under simulated operating-room conditions. In order to analyze the effect of time to apposition on interface strength, two cement surfaces were brought together 1, 2, 4, and 6 min after 1 min of mixing and 45 s of waiting. Cement-cement interface strength was evaluated with the use of a three-point bending to failure test. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the failed interface were obtained. The mean interface strength decreased when the cement-cement interface was time delayed. Compared to bulk cement, interface strength in time-delayed groups decreased 8% after 1-min delay (p=.037), 18% after 2-min delay (p=.0004), 20% after 4-min delay (p=.0005), and 42% after 6-min delay (p<.0001). No statistically significant differences in interface strength were found between the 2- and 4-min delayed groups (p=.73). SEM images revealed that after 6-min delay, up to 50% of the cement surface can remain unbonded, explaining the decrease in strength of the cement-cement interface as a function of time to apposition. This laboratory study indicates that time to apposition plays a critical role in cement-cement interface strength. If any cementing technique involves the joining of two cement surfaces, it is recommended that the two cement surfaces be mated together within 5 min and 45 s after the start of mixing (1 min mixing; 45 s waiting; 4 min delay), in order to obtain a strong cement-cement interface bond. Delay beyond this can result in substantial reduction in the strength of the cement-cement interface bond.
Copyright 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.