Sterilization Methods for Plastics
and Relative Effectiveness
|
Plastic
|
Steam
|
Radiation
|
Ethylene Oxide
|
Dry Heat
|
|
Acetal
|
Good
|
No
|
Good
|
Good
|
|
Acrylic
|
Poor
|
Good
|
Good
|
––
|
|
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene
|
Varies (1)
|
Good
|
Varies
|
––
|
|
High-density polyethylene
|
Good
|
Good
|
Good
|
––
|
|
Nylon
|
Varies (1)
|
Good
|
Good
|
No
|
|
Polycarbonate
|
Varies
|
Good
|
Good
|
Good
|
|
Polyester
|
Poor
|
Good
|
Good
|
––
|
|
Polyethylene
|
Poor (1)
|
Good
|
Good
|
––
|
|
Polyglycolic acid
|
No
|
No
|
Good
|
––
|
|
Polymethyl pentene
|
Good
|
Poor
|
Good
|
OK, no load
|
|
Polypropylene
|
Good
|
Varies
|
Good
|
OK, no load
|
|
Polypropylene & polyethylene copolymer
|
Good
|
Good
|
Good
|
OK, no load
|
|
Polystyrene
|
Poor
|
Good
|
Good
|
––
|
|
Polysulfone
|
Good
|
Good
|
Good
|
Yes
|
|
Polyurethane
|
Poor
|
Good
|
Good
|
––
|
|
Polyvinyl chloride
|
Varies (1)
|
Varies
|
Good
|
––
|
|
Polyvinylidene fluoride
|
Good
|
Good
|
Good
|
––
|
|
PTFE
|
Varies
|
No
|
Good
|
OK
|
|
Silicone
|
Good
|
Good
|
Good
|
Low temp.
|
(1) there are many materials that can be damaged by high-temperature heat,
including acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, acrylic, styrene, low-density
polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, etc.; however, acetal, polypropylene and
ptfe could be possible candidates for heat because these materials can be
damaged by radiation. polyurethane may be hydrolytically attacked by steam
but not by low-temperature dry heat, eto or radiation. material compatibility
and considerations need to be evaluated before accepting any sterilization
method listed above. see maximum sterilization temperatures for various materials.