Medical Plastics - Degradation Resistance & Failure Analysis

 Content: Overview --
 An Overview of the Use of Polymers in Medical Applications as Illustrated by the Design, Characterization, and Application of TyrosineDerived Polymers --
 Analytical Methods --
 Validating Materials for Packaging: Controlling the Front End --
 Failure Analysis of Polymeric Medical Devices --
 Materials Analysis Techniques for Medical Devices --
 Using Burst Testing to Evaluate Sterile Blister Packaging --
 Servohydraulic Testing Systems for Biomaterials --
 Measuring Residual Stress in Transparent Plastics --
 Behavior of Materials --
 The Changes in Ethylene Oxide Sterilization and Their Effect on Thermoplastics --
 Understanding Environmental Stress Cracking in Polyethylene --
 Failure Morphology of Injection Molded High Density Polyethylene, HDPE, Component with Living Hinge --
 What Makes Clear Polypropylene Discolor? --
 Effect of?Radiation on Isothermal Crystallization of Polypropylene --
 Evaluation of Irradiated Polypropylenes by Strain Rate Dependence of Tensile Properties --
 Polypropylene Response to HighEnergy Radiation --
 Plastomer Modified Polypropylene Films for Medical Product Packaging --
 Predicting Postrad Shelflife from Accelerated Aging Data: the D & A Process --
 Chemical Resistance of Polycarbonate --
 Controlled Ductility Loss of Polycarbonate Through Steam Sterilization --
 Reprocessing of Medical Vinyl Compounds --
 Improving the Gamma Resistance of Flexible PVC --
 Effects of Saline Environment on the Properties of PEEK and Epoxy Composites --
 The Advantages of Utilizing Thermoplastic Polyesters in Medical Devices Subjected to Harsh Environments --
 New Polyetherimide Alloy with Enhanced Toughness and Sterilization Capabilities --
 Absorbable Polymers with Engineered Biomedical Properties --
 Fiber Reinforced Composite Materials for Dental Appliances --
 NonConventional Processing Routes on the Development of Anisotropic and Biodegradable Composites of Starch Based Thermoplastic Reinforced with BoneLike Ceramics --
 Assembly of Plastic Parts --
 Joining Plastics in Medical Devices Problems and Solutions --
 Effective Use of Adhesives in Medical Device Assembly --
 Packaging Materials --
 Correlate Resin Properties to the Cryogenic Impact Performance of Medical Containers --
 Radiation Sterilization Compatibility of Medical Packaging Materials --
 Light Transmittance of a ThinWall Container Made from Isotactic Polypropylene --
 Index.
 Abstract:             The use of plastics is widespread. Less widespread, however, is a clear understanding and examination of the many forms of degradation inherent within the very environments these materials must perform. Medical Plastics̮Degradation Resistance & Failure Analysis fills that void. The introductory chapter gives an overview of the medical applications of plastics and the specific performance requirements they need to meet. The following chapters discuss various degrading environments and their effects including environmental stress cracking, effect of body liquids, effect of harsh environments, and various methods of sterilization. The book also discusses the failure of medical devices due to contamination, low temperature, the effects of UV light, migration of formulation components, mechanical stresses, and problems with design and fabrication. Case histories of failures of some common products used in medicine are also provided