Physical and mechanical behavior of electron-beam irradiated and ethylene oxide sterilized multiblock polyester.

The effect of two sterilization treatments (electron-beam radiation and ethylene oxide gas) on the structure and mechanical properties of a multiblock copolymer were investigated to establish the effects of the sterilizing procedures on potential biomedical material. The material was exposed for different radiation doses in order to find an optimum dose of electron-beam radiation. Characterization techniques employed include gel permeation chromatography, infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis and tensile testing. The optimal dose of radiation at which no change in structure and mechanical properties occurred was found as 25 kGy. Ethylene oxide gas treatment also did not affect the structure and properties of the polymer and it can be recommended as an alternative sterilization route for the studied polymer. Copyright 2000 Kluwer Academic Publishers