A large number of medical products are packaged and sterilized, including plasters, medical tape, surgery drapes and ECG electrodes. All of these products use an adhesive. The packaging is also often closed or sealed with an adhesive. The adhesive must be able to withstand the sterilization processes commonly used without its properties changing. Furthermore, the sterile properties of the product must remain the same over a long period of time.
There is a difference between adhesives that form direct bonds on the skin and those that are used as laminating adhesives and do not come into direct contact with human skin. Adhesives that are allowed to come into direct contact with skin are used in the manufacture of plasters, such as artimelt M11.1506, which is ideal for contact with sensitive skin. Surgery drapes are often made up of multiple layers. The individual layers are stuck together using a laminating adhesive such as artimelt M12.317. Sometimes, a self-adhesive edge strip is applied to ensure that the drape can be affixed to the patient’s skin. artimelt M11.1566 is very well suited for this purpose.
Laminating adhesives are also used in the manufacture of ECG electrodes in order to ensure that the individual components remain reliably and constantly stuck together. At room temperature, these adhesives are dry and non-sticky. However, once they are warmed up, they become soft and their adhesive properties are awakened. The adhesive subsequently forms a bond to the substrate when pressure is applied. These adhesives are different from pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSA) that are constantly sticky and must be covered with a release liner.
During the sterilization process, the question of “what happens to the adhesive?!” is always asked. Does the form, color, smell, etc. of the adhesive change? artimelt carried out a comprehensive study and subjected selected artimelt adhesives to individual sterilization methods:
The chart shows the change in the adhesion and cohesion values following sterilization.
The “0-value” values show the adhesive properties prior to sterilization. Depending on the method used, barely any differences were recorded. This means that the adhesive almost retains its original properties. The sterilization process can even be said to have positive effects on the adhesive, as the cohesion – and therefore the internal strength – increase and the adhesion remains the same! Based on this study, we can say that the artimelt adhesives are ideally suited for sterilization.
There is a difference between adhesives that form direct bonds on the skin and those that are used as laminating adhesives and do not come into direct contact with human skin. Adhesives that are allowed to come into direct contact with skin are used in the manufacture of plasters, such as artimelt M11.1506, which is ideal for contact with sensitive skin. Surgery drapes are often made up of multiple layers. The individual layers are stuck together using a laminating adhesive such as artimelt M12.317. Sometimes, a self-adhesive edge strip is applied to ensure that the drape can be affixed to the patient’s skin. artimelt M11.1566 is very well suited for this purpose.
Laminating adhesives are also used in the manufacture of ECG electrodes in order to ensure that the individual components remain reliably and constantly stuck together. At room temperature, these adhesives are dry and non-sticky. However, once they are warmed up, they become soft and their adhesive properties are awakened. The adhesive subsequently forms a bond to the substrate when pressure is applied. These adhesives are different from pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSA) that are constantly sticky and must be covered with a release liner.
During the sterilization process, the question of “what happens to the adhesive?!” is always asked. Does the form, color, smell, etc. of the adhesive change? artimelt carried out a comprehensive study and subjected selected artimelt adhesives to individual sterilization methods:
- Ethylene oxide sterilization (EtO)
- Gamma radiation
- X-ray radiation
The chart shows the change in the adhesion and cohesion values following sterilization.
The “0-value” values show the adhesive properties prior to sterilization. Depending on the method used, barely any differences were recorded. This means that the adhesive almost retains its original properties. The sterilization process can even be said to have positive effects on the adhesive, as the cohesion – and therefore the internal strength – increase and the adhesion remains the same! Based on this study, we can say that the artimelt adhesives are ideally suited for sterilization.
