Prevention of odor generation during gamma-irradiation of polypropylene fibers

• US 5,041,483 A
• Filed: 04/04/1988
• Issued: 08/20/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fiberco Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hercules Incorporated (Ashland Global Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Burch, George N. B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schofer, Joseph L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Reddick, J. M.
• Application Number:
  US07/176,963
• Time in Patent Office: 1,233 Days
• Field of Search: 524/270, 524/274, 524/283
• US Class Current: 524/274
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/08 Radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/00 Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air body deodorants A61Q15/00; purifying air by respirators A62B, A62D9/00; separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours B01D45/00 - B01D51/00, B03C3/00; chemical or biological purification of waste gases B01D53/34; production of ozone C01B13/10; air-conditioning systems incorporating sterilisation F24F3/16, F24F8/20
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2203/12 used for fibers
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 23/10 Homopolymers or copolymers of propene
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/26 Natural polymers, natural resins or derivatives thereof according to C08L1/00 - C08L5/00, C08L89/00, C08L93/00, C08L97/00 or C08L99/00
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 93/04 Rosin
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 1/10 Other agents for modifying properties
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 6/06 from polypropylene

Abstract

Rosin esters are used to reduce the tendency of shaped articles made from polypropylene, especially fibers, to form malodorous decomposition products upon sterilization by gamma-irradiation. Other stabilizers normally used to prevent discoloration and degradation of polyolefins may also be present. Stabilized fibers are used for the manufacture of disposable medical products.

Claims

1. A method for reducing the tendency of a polypropylene shaped article toward odor generation upon sterilization of the article by gamma-irradiation, comprising incorporating into an article-forming composition from about 0.095 to about 1.0% by weight of a rosin ester as a stabilizer before forming the article.

2. A method for reducing the tendency of articles containing polypropylene to generate malodofous decomposition products upon undergoing radiation sterilization, comprising incorporating into a corresponding article-forming composition about 0.095% to about 0.50% by weight of an ester of a monohydric lower alkyl alcohol and a rosin acid, said ester having a Gardner-Holdt viscosity at 25°

C. of Y-Z3 and an acid number of 6.

5. A method according to claim 2 wherein said ester is a methyl ester of a monocarboxy rosin acid.

3. A method for reducing the tendency of articles containing polypropylene to generate malodorous decomposition products upon undergoing radiation sterilization, comprising incorporating into a corresponding article-forming composition about 0.095% to about 0.50% by weight of an ester of a monohydric lower alkyl alcohol and a rosin acid, said ester having a Gardner-Holdt viscosity at 25°

C. of Z-Z4 and an acid number of 7.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein said ester is a methyl ester of a monocarboxy rosin acid.