The Role of Oxygen in Polyethylene Sterilization

The presence of oxygen determines the pathway following free radical formation. In an oxygen-rich environment, the polyethylene becomes oxidized and leads to early failure due to subsurface delamination or pitting. Removal of free radicals can be done through thermal stabilization slash remelting, or annealing. The methods to obtain an oxygen-depleted environment include packing via argon and nitrogen as well as packing in a vacuum environment.