Method to reduce damage caused by irradiation of halogenated polymers

• US 20040157017A1
• Filed: 02/06/2003
• Published: 08/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aradigm Corporation
• Original Assignee: Aradigm Corporation
• Inventors: Mauze, Ganapati, Trilokekar, Nikhil
• Granted Patent: US 6,933,026 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/35.7
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/08 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 55/08 by irradiation
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 55/16 by irradiation
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 3/28 Treatment by wave energy or particle radiation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1352 Polymer or resin containing [i.e., natural or synthetic]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2809 including irradiated or wave energy treated component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/3154 Of fluorinated addition polymer from unsaturated monomers

Abstract

A method for producing a polymeric film resistant to degradation during sterilization such as gamma irradiation is presented. The method includes the steps of minimizing the number of free radicals formed during sterilization through use of an inert gas and a reactant scavenger within a sterilization pouch, which reactant scavenger may be acid adsorbents which scavenge the acid by-products formed during irradiation. The films retain physical and mechanical properties with long-term storage. The films are particularly amenable for use as packaging laminates in pharmaceutical, food, semiconductor and medical device industries.

Claims

1. A method, comprising the steps of:

sealing a polymeric component, an inert gas and reactant scavenger into a container impermeable to bacteria and the inert gas;

irradiating the polymer component and the container with radiation; and

storing the container in a manner such that the reactant scavenger in the container is allowed to contact reactants formed during irradiation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the polymeric component is comprised of a material chosen from olefin, polyolefin, vinyl polymer, polyether, polyester, polyamide, halogenated polymer, polysiloxane, ionic polymer, polyurethane, acrylic, cellulose, tannin, polysaccharide, and starch.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the polymeric component is an olefin chosen from PE, PP, EMA, EVA and EAA.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the polymeric component is a halogenated polymer chosen from PTFE, PCTFE, PVDF and PVC.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the reactant scavenger is chosen from aluminum oxide, sodium oxide, silicon dioxide and ferric oxide.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the inert gas is chosen from nitrogen, argon, helium, neon, xenon, and krypton.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the radiation is chosen from gamma irradiation, x-ray irradiation, ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and electron beam irradiation and the storing is over a period of three days or more.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein artificially created radiation is chosen from gamma radiation, X-rays, UV, and e-beam radiation for sterilization purposes in an amount in a range of from about 25 to about 35 kGy and the storing is over a period of seven days of more.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the reactants are chosen from HCl, HF, HBr and HI and the storing is over a period of thirty days or more.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the reactant scavenger comprises an acid adsorbent and physical properties of the polymer component are stabilized in a range of ±

25% over a period of thirty days.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the container is stored for one week or more following the irradiating.

12. A packaged, sterilized polymeric component, comprising

a polymeric component;

an inert gas;

a reactant scavenger; and

a sealed container holding the polymeric component, inert gas and reactant scavenger, the sealed container being impermeable to bacteria and the inert gas.

13. The packaged, sterilized polymeric component of claim 12, wherein the polymeric component is comprised of a material chosen from olefin, polyolefin, vinyl polymer, polyether, polyester, polyamide, halogenated polymer, polysiloxane, ionic polymer, polyurethane, acrylic, cellulose, tannin, polysaccharide, and starch.

14. The packaged, sterilized polymeric component of claim 12, wherein the polymeric component is an olefin chosen from PE, PP, EMA, EVA and EAA.

15. The packaged, sterilized polymeric component of claim 12, wherein the polymeric component is a halogenated polymer chosen from PTFE, PCTFE, PVDF and PVC.

16. The packaged, sterilized polymeric component of claim 12, wherein the reactant scavenger is chosen from aluminum oxide, sodium oxide, silicon dioxide and ferric oxide.

17. The packaged, sterilized polymeric component of claim 12, wherein the inert gas is chosen from nitrogen, argon, helium, neon, xenon, and krypton.

18. The packaged, sterilized polymeric component of claim 12, wherein the component is comprised of a plurality of different polymers.

19. The packaged, sterilized polymeric component of claim 12, wherein the component is comprised of an adhesive.

20. The packaged, sterilized polymeric component of claim 12, wherein the reactant scavenger is in one or more packets attached to the polymer component.

21. The packaged, sterilized polymeric component of claim 12, wherein the reactant scavenger is embedded in the polymer component.

22. The packaged, sterilized polymeric component of claim 12, wherein the polymer component is comprised of a main component and a smaller subcomponent which has embedded therein the reactant scavenger.