Despite the rapid growth of polypropylene as a material of construction for radiation-sterilized medical devices, polypropylene films have not acheived similar use in packaging either devices or medical solutions. The high ratio of film surface area to mass, combined with the snesitivity of irradiated polypropylene to oxygen-promoted degradation, causes them to be severely embrittled after normal sterilizing doses of radiation. Even resin formulations which yield highly radiation resistant injection molded devices are badly degraded after irradiation in thin film form. We have demonstrated, however, that blends of Exact direct R ethylene plastomers with propylene homogpolymers successfully withstand gamma-radiation doses in excess of 50 kGy. It is now possible to produce polypropylene film which can be usefully applied to the packaging of radiation-sterilized medical devices.
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