The Modification of Time-Dependent Mechanical Properties of Polyamides due to Sterilization

We examine the effect of sterilization on functionality and durability of Polyamide 6. Nowadays there are several applications of this material in medicine in a form of surgical sewing material, vascular catheters and other implants. Understanding the time-dependent behavior of PA-6 is critical in predicting the durability of different medical products made from this polymer. We show that two PA-6 materials having different initial kinetics and processed with the same technology, when exposed to sterilization, change their time-dependent mechanical properties, and hence the durability in significantly different ways.