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 PlasticsùDegradation 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.

OverviewAn Overview of the Use of Polymers in Medical Applications as Illustrated by the Design, Characterization, and Application of Tyrosine-Derived PolymersAnalytical MethodsValidating Materials for Packaging: Controlling the Front EndFailure Analysis of Polymeric Medical DevicesMaterials Analysis Techniques for Medical DevicesUsing Burst Testing to Evaluate Sterile Blister PackagingServohydraulic Testing Systems for BiomaterialsMeasuring Residual Stress in Transparent PlasticsBehavior of MaterialsThe Changes in Ethylene Oxide Sterilization and Their Effect on ThermoplasticsUnderstanding Environmental Stress Cracking in PolyethyleneFailure Morphology of Injection Molded High Density Polyethylene, HDPE, Component with Living HingeWhat Makes Clear Polypropylene Discolor?Effect of ?-Radiation on Isothermal Crystallization of PolypropyleneEvaluation of Irradiated Polypropylenes by Strain Rate Dependence of Tensile PropertiesPolypropylene Response to High-Energy RadiationPlastomer Modified Polypropylene Films for Medical Product PackagingPredicting Post-rad Shelf-life from Accelerated Aging Data: the D&A ProcessChemical Resistance of PolycarbonateControlled Ductility Loss of Polycarbonate Through Steam SterilizationReprocessing of Medical Vinyl CompoundsImproving the Gamma Resistance of Flexible PVCEffects of Saline Environment on the Properties of PEEK and Epoxy CompositesThe Advantages of Utilizing Thermoplastic Polyesters in Medical Devices Subjected to Harsh EnvironmentsNew Polyetherimide Alloy with Enhanced Toughness and Sterilization CapabilitiesAbsorbable Polymers with Engineered Biomedical PropertiesFiber Reinforced Composite Materials for Dental AppliancesNon-Conventional Processing Routes on the Development of Anisotropic and Biodegradable Composites of Starch Based Thermoplastic Reinforced with Bone-Like CeramicsAssembly of Plastic PartsJoining Plastics in Medical Devices Problems and SolutionsEffective Use of Adhesives in Medical Device AssemblyPackaging MaterialsCorrelate Resin Properties to the Cryogenic Impact Performance of Medical ContainersRadiation Sterilization Compatibility of Medical Packaging MaterialsLight Transmittance of a Thin-Wall Container Made from Isotactic PolypropyleneIndex