X-ray versus gamma irradiation effects on polymers

Today, the most common methods used for medical device sterilisation are by gaseous ethylene oxide and by electron beam or gamma irradiation. With X-ray sterilisation about to enter the market, its material compatibility needs to be assessed at doses typically encountered during a sterilisation process. This paper reports on a study that compares the effects of exposing different types of plastics that are commonly used in medical devices to Co-60 or to 5 MeV X-rays. The dose rate for both irradiation modalities was of the same order of magnitude. Under these conditions, both types of radiation are found to have similar effects on polymer properties. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.