Hey good looking: Styrolution talks sterilisation and aesthetics
Styrolution discusses the combination of sterilisation and aesthetics with styrenics
Sterilisation of medical tools and devices is an essential process that is required for many medical procedures to prevent infections and contamination. Several sterilisation procedures, such as steam sterilisation, EtO treatment, as well as beta and gamma irradiation, have been established in the industry to guarantee the complete removal of microorganisms, including bacterial and fungal spores from medical devices. While the complete removal and destruction of all living organisms is not always apparent to the naked eye, the aesthetics of a device can help create a sense of safety and cleanliness for both healthcare professionals and patients. As such, medical device manufacturers continue to seek out materials that balance sterilisation with aesthetic value and mechanical performance.
The taint of irradiation sterilisation
One of the most economic procedures for medical device sterilisation is the use of e-beam or gamma ray irradiation; and medical device manufacturers have a range of material options at their disposal for use in these sterilisation processes. However, not all materials are equally suited for these high energy treatments as they can result in a yellowing of the product or even the impairment of physical and mechanical properties.
While the yellowing tends to be temporary, depending on the material, the extent and duration of coloor recovery differs significantly and can take up to several weeks (Figure 1). While additives or blue tints can be incorporated into the material to allow for colour correction over time, a poor color compensation results in increased costs and logistical challenges due to prolonged inventory hold times for many manufacturers.
Simply put – devices that are tinged yellow simply do not offer the aesthetic appeal or create the sense of confidence and cleanliness necessary for the healthcare industry.
Solutions for irradiation sterilisation
Understanding the necessity of combining performance, sterilisation and aesthetics, Styrolution offers the healthcare industry two materials solutions, Zylar/Clearblend and Styrolux, which answer the challenges presented by other materials.
Zylar/Clearblend is a clear, impact modified styrene acrylic copolymer that offers toughness, and chemical resistance to alcohols. As thermoplastic styrene-butadiene copolymer (SBC), Styrolux boasts high transparency, optical brilliance, impact resistance and ability to blend with other materials.
Medical service packages
To meet the needs and demands of the medical industry, material solutions must also offer regulatory compliance in addition to aesthetics, performance and processability. Styrolution ensures its customers have the security and support necessary to guarantee compliance through medical service packages. These include a Full Service HD Package and an Essential HD Package.
As medical device manufacturers continue to innovate in the healthcare industry, the use of materials that maintain their transparency and mechanical properties throughout irradiation sterilisation will continue to offer competitive advantages. By leveraging material solutions such as Zylar/Clearblend and Styrolux, and comprehensive medical service packages, manufacturers can develop medical devices with a clear and clean appearance that communicate the safety and sterilisation of the application, while reducing costs related to energy and inventory hold times.