Polypropylene and polycarbonate radiosterilization: effects on the stress resistance

The gamma radiation effect on polymer sterilization used in the fabrication of medical supplies, national polycarbonate and polypropylene, was studied in function of the tensile strength. During the polycarbonate irradiation occur the scission of polymer chain and the crosslinking/scission of the polypropylene, but in the sterilization dose, 25 kGy, does not occur expressive changes in the tensile strength. After the polypropylene sterilization the tensile strength continues increasing as consequence of the crosslinking. Since the sixth day the oxidation reaction predominates as consequence of the radical migration to the amorphous region. (author). 7 refs, 6 figs