# Optimization of Mechanical and Setting Properties in Acrylic Bone Cements Added with Graphene Oxide
###### Abstract
This article shows for the first time the interactions present between the factors sonication time and GO percentage in the liquid phase, together with the percentage of benzoyl peroxide (BPO) in the solid phase, on the mechanical and setting properties established for cements in the ISO 5833-02 standard. Optimization of the factors using a completely randomized experimental design with a factorial structure resulted in selecting nine combinations that presented an increase in compression, flexion, and the setting time and decreased the maximum temperature reached during the polymerization. All of these characteristics are desirable for improving the clinical performance of cement. Those containing 0.3 wt.% of GO were highlighted from the selected formulations because all the possible combinations of the studied factors generate desirable properties for the ABC. 1 Grupo de Materiales Computestos, Escuela de Ingenieria de Materiales, Universidad del Valle,  
Calle 13 & 100-00, Calit 76001, Colombia; [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (L.M.R.R. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (L.M.R.R. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (M.E.V.Z. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (L.M.R.R. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (L.M.R.R. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (M.E.V.Z. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (L.M.R.R. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (M.E.V.Z. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (L.M.R.R. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (L.M.R.R. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (M.E.V.Z. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (L.M.R.R.R. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (M.E.V.Z. ); [PERSON]DDRESS] (L.M.R.R.R. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (M.E.V.Z. ); [PERSON]DDRESS] (L.M.R.R.R. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (L.M.R.R.R. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (M.E.V.Z. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (L.M.R.R.R. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (L.M.R.R.R. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (L.M.R.R.R. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (M.E.V.Z. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (L.M.R.R.R. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (L.M.R.R.R. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (M.E.V.Z. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (L.M.R.R.R. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (L.M.R.R.R. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (L.M.R.R.R. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (L.M.R.R.R. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (L.M.R.R.R. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (L.M.R.R.R. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (M.E.V.Z. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (L.M.R.R.R. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (L.M.R.R.R. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (L.M.R.R.R.R. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (M.E.V.Z. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (L.M.R.R.R. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (L.M.R.R.R.R. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (L.M.R.R.R. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (M.E.V.Z. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (L.M.R.R.R. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (L.M.R.R.R. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (L.M.R.R.R. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (L.M.R.R.R. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (L.M.R.R.R. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (L.M.R.R.R. ); valencia. as an activator for the formation of radicals [7; 11], and hydroquinone as a stabilizer to room temperature [1; 5]. The mixture of BPO and DMPT produces benzoyl radicals, starting PMMA polymerization [7; 11]. These benzoyl radicals join with the monomer and form active centers, which combine with multiple molecules to create PMMA chains [13] (Figure 1). The polymerization reaction's exothermic character may play a role in thermal necrosis of the periprosthetic tissue [6; 8], inducing the implant deterioration [1]. Some fillers such as hydroxyapatite (HA) [14; 15; 16; 17], phosphate bioglasses [18; 19], silicate and borate bioglasses [20; 21], tricalcium phosphates [22; 23], Sepia Officials cuttlebone [24], and biodegradable polymers such as cellulose, chitosan, polydioxanone [25], polylactic acid (PLA), \(\beta\)-polyhydroxy butyrate (PHB), and thermoplastic starch (TPS) have been added to the solid phase of the cement for improving different properties; however, due to the inorganic nature of some of them and the biodegradable behavior of others, losses in their mechanical properties have been generated [26]. Graphene oxide (GO) is a two-dimensional material, a graphene sheet with oxygen groups over its surface [27]. Usually, GO attracts significant attention in biomedical applica  
Figure 1: Schematic diagram of the free radical polymerization of MMA. tions due to its high mechanical performance, biocompatibility, biodegradation [26; 28; 29; 30; 31], and excellent antibacterial properties [32; 33].