Gamma Radiation Sterilization:

Its Effect on Polypropylene

Background Effects of Radiation Exposure on Physical

There exists today a wide variety of commercially available
polypropylenes including homopolymers, random
copolymers, and impact copolymers that are used in ever
expanding applications. Many of these applications,
including medical, require that the article be sterilized
before use. The sterilization of polypropylene by Gamma
Radiation is becoming one of the more common methods,
and is often the choice for articles manufactured from
polypropylene.
Properties
Yellowness Index
The yellowness index of each form of polypropylene
increased after exposure to gamma radiation. The most
dramatic increase occurred in the standard Homopolymer
material. The least increase was noted in the non-
phenolic Impact Copolymer.

It is common knowledge that conventionally stabilized Homopolymer

polypropylenes may not be suited for high-energy
Yellowness Index
sterilization due to their loss of physical properties and
discoloration that takes place immediately after Pre-Exposure
30
sterilization, and which can further deteriorate with time. 25 Post-Exposure
While these effects may be due to the inherent property of 20
the polymer, the effects can vary significantly between YI Value 15
varieties. Additionally, the addition of specialized additives 10
can help to further mitigate these effects. 5
0
Standard UV Stabilized UV
To provide further insight into the effect that Gamma Stabilized/Non-
Radiation on various forms of polypropylene, a select Phenolic

sample of homopolymer, random copolymer, and impact

copolymer grades were subjected to gamma radiation at
28.1 to 34.8 kGy, a level appropriate for sterilization. After Random Copolymer
exposure, the physical properties of the samples were Yellowness Index
tested and compared to unexposed samples of the same
material. 30 Pre-Exposure
25 Post-Exposure

Experimental 20
15
In all, nine different grades of polypropylene were YI Value
10
formulated and used for testing. These nine grades 5
0
consisted of three Homopolymers, three Random
-5
Copolymers, and three Impact Copolymers. A base Standard UV Stabilized UV
reactor powder was collected for each of the three forms Stabilized/Non-
Phenolic
of polymer and compounded in the lab with three different
additive packages. The additive packages chosen were
typical of what might be found in commercial grades of Impact Copolymer
each form of polypropylene.
Yellowness Index
Additive package one consisted of a phenolic primary
antioxidant, high performance phosphite secondary 16 Pre-Exposure
14 Post-Exposure
antioxidant, and acid acceptor. In additive package two, a 12
Hindered Amine Light Stabilizer (HALS) was added to 10
YI Value 8
provide protection from the high energy radiation. In 6
additive package three, the phenolic and phosphite 4
2
antioxidants were replaced with a non-phenolic amine 0
oxide. Standard UV Stabilized UV
Stabilized/Non-
Phenolic
In addition to the basic additive packages mentioned
above, additive package one for the homopolymer also
contained a nucleator/clarifier, while additive package one Tensile Strength
for the random copolymer contained a sorbitol clarifier and Gamma radiation had little effect on the tensile strength of
antistat. each form of polypropylene tested, regardless of the
 Gamma Radiation Sterilization:
Its Effect on Polypropylene
stabilization package. In all cases, tensile strength at yield Impact Copolymer
and break changed by less the 2% after exposure.
Tensile Strength - Yield

Homopolymer 3780
Pre-Exposure
3760 Post-Exposure
Tensile Strength - Yield
3740
3720

Psi
5800 Pre-Exposure 3700
5700 Post-Exposure 3680
5600 3660
5500 3640
Psi

5400 Standard UV Stabilized UV

5300 Stabilized/Non-
Phenolic
5200
5100
Standard UV Stabilized UV
Stabilized/Non-
Phenolic Tensile Strength - Break

Tensile Strength - Break 3530 Pre-Exposure

3520 Post-Exposure
3510
5500 Pre-Exposure
3500

Psi
5450 Post-Exposure 3490
5400 3480
5350
5300 3470
Psi

5250 3460
5200 3450
5150 Standard UV Stabilized UV
5100 Stabilized/Non-
5050 Phenolic
Standard UV Stabilized UV
Stabilized/Non-
Phenolic
Tensile Elongation
Random Copolymer Each form of polypropylene tested showed a slight
Tensile Strength - Yield decrease in tensile elongation at yield of up to 6% after
exposure to gamma radiation. The reduction in tensile
5600
Pre-Exposure elongation was less for the Impact Copolymer compared
5400
Post-Exposure to the Homopolymer or Random Copolymer.
5200
Psi

5000
In contrast, tensile elongation at break decreased
4800
significantly for each form of polypropylene tested, with the
4600
UV stabilized Random Copolymer showing the least
Standard UV Stabilized UV amount of decrease.
Stabilized/Non-
Phenolic
Homopolymer
Tensile Strength - Break Tensile Elongation - Yield

Pre-Exposure 10.0 Pre-Exposure

5300
Post-Exposure Post-Exposure
5200 8.0
5100
Percent

6.0
5000
Psi

4.0
4900
4800 2.0
4700 0.0
4600 Standard UV Stabilized UV
Standard UV Stabilized UV Stabilized/Non-
Stabilized/Non- Phenolic
Phenolic
 Gamma Radiation Sterilization:
Its Effect on Polypropylene
Tensile Elongation - Break Tensile Elongation - Break

100 Pre-Exposure 200.0 Pre-Exposure

Post-Exposure Post-Exposure
80 150.0

Percent
60
Percent 100.0
40
50.0
20
0 0.0
Standard UV Stabilized UV Standard UV Stabilized UV
Stabilized/Non- Stabilized/Non-
Phenolic Phenolic

Random Copolymer Flexural Modulus

Each form of polypropylene tested experienced less than a
Tensile Elongation - Yield
6% increase in flexural modulus after exposure to gamma
Pre-Exposure radiation.
12.0
11.5 Post-Exposure

11.0 Homopolymer
Percent

10.5
Flexural Modulus
10.0
9.5
300,000 Pre-Exposure
9.0
Standard UV Stabilized UV 250,000 Post-Exposure
Stabilized/Non- 200,000
Phenolic
Psi

150,000
100,000
50,000
Tensile Elongation - Break 0
Standard UV Stabilized UV
Stabilized/Non-
250 Pre-Exposure Phenolic
Post-Exposure
200
Percent

150
Random Copolymer
100
50

0 Flexural Modulus
Standard UV Stabilized UV
Stabilized/Non- Pre-Exposure
250,000
Phenolic
Post-Exposure
200,000
150,000
Psi

Impact Copolymer 100,000

50,000
Tensile Elongation - Yield
0
Standard UV Stabilized UV
Pre-Exposure Stabilized/Non-
6.8
Post-Exposure Phenolic
6.6
Percent

6.4
Impact Copolymer
6.2
6.0
Flexural Modulus

5.8
Standard UV Stabilized UV 220,000 Pre-Exposure
Stabilized/Non- 215,000 Post-Exposure
Phenolic 210,000
Psi

205,000
200,000
195,000
190,000
Standard UV Stabilized UV
Stabilized/Non-
Phenolic
 Gamma Radiation Sterilization:
Its Effect on Polypropylene
Gardner Impact Conclusion
Gardner Impact testing was conducted on both the As shown in the above examples, it is clearly evident that
Random and Impact Copolymers at room temperature. exposure to gamma radiation can have a significant effect
Additionally, the Impact Copolymer was also tested at -20 on the physical properties of Homopolymer, Random
deg C. As expected, both forms of polypropylene showed Copolymer, and Impact Copolymer polypropylenes. Some
a decrease in impact strength. The decrease was physical properties, such as tensile strength and flexural
relatively minor for the Impact Copolymer, generally modulus are only moderately affected while other
ranging from 10 – 20% at both 20C and -20C. The properties such as yellowness and impact resistance are
Random Copolymer (not illustrated) suffered more than a affected to a much greater extent. In some cases, these
60% decrease in impact properties at room temperature. effects can be mitigated by the use of UV stabilizers and,
in the case of yellowness index, the use of a non-phenolic
Impact Copolymer antioxidant package.
Gardner Impact (23 C)
In selecting a polypropylene for an application that will be
Pre-Exposure
subjected to gamma radiation, it is important to recognize
180.0
Post-Exposure
what physical properties are most important for that
170.0
specific application. Since radiation sterilization will affect
In-Lbs

160.0
all material properties to some degree, the customer
150.0
should take the time to verify that the properties of the
140.0
material will meet their needs both before and after
130.0
Standard UV Stabilized UV radiation exposure. It should also be noted that the effects
Stabilized/Non- of gamma radiation may increase over time and with
Phenolic
repeated exposure.

Gardner Impact (-20 C)

200.0 Pre-Exposure
Post-Exposure
150.0
In-Lbs

100.0

50.0

0.0
Standard UV Stabilized UV
Stabilized/Non-
Phenolic

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