Abstract
Electroactive polymers (EAP) are one of the latest generations of flexible actuators, enabling new approaches to propulsion and maneuverability. Among them, poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene-chlorofluoroethylene/chlorotrifluoroethylene), abbreviated terpolymer, with its multifunctional sensing and actuating abilities as well as its impressive electrostrictive behavior, especially when being doped with an plasticizer, has been demonstrated to be a good candidate for the development of low-cost flexible guidewire tip for endovascular surgery. To minimize the possibility of bacterial, fungal, or viral disease transmission, all medical instruments (especially components made from polymers) must be sterilized before introduction into the patient. Gamma/beta (γ/β) irradiation is considered to be one of the most efficient techniques for targeted reduction of microbials and viruses under low temperature, often without drastic alterations in device properties. However, radiation may cause some physical and chemical changes in polymers. A compromise is required to ensure sufficient radiation for microbial deactivation but minimal radiation to retain the material’s properties. The main idea of this study aims at assessing the electromechanical performances and thermal/dielectric properties of β-irradiated terpolymer-based sterilization treatment. Ionizing β-rays did not cause any significant risk to the neat/plasticized terpolymers, confirming the reliability of such electrostrictive materials for medical device development.
Highlights
Electroactive polymers (EAP) are one of the latest generations of flexible actuators, enabling new approaches to propulsion and maneuverability
The annealing temperature was chosen as the onset of the melting peak for the second melting of terpolymer powder that was determined via Differential Scan Calorimetry (DSC)
Similar results were obtained for both with- and without-sterilized samples, confirming that β-based sterilization does not alter the morphology of the crystalline phase or the thermal behavior of the fabricated EAPs
Summary
Electroactive polymers (EAP) are one of the latest generations of flexible actuators, enabling new approaches to propulsion and maneuverability. Radiation-based sterilization is a cold method with no heat dependence and treatment can be efficient even at ambient temperature or sub-zero temperatures This technique is compatible with many polymers that are sensitive to high temperature such as pharmaceuticals and biological samples. Only a single variable relating to the exposure dose/time must be monitored, making radiation sterilization simple and easy to control Another benefit stems from the flexibility of this technique, which can sterilize any material with variable density, size, or thickness, and homogeneous or heterogeneous systems, regardless of temperature and pressure conditions. The main objective of this study involves evaluating the β-radiation effect on the morphology and electromechanical properties of the terpolymer to determine if sterilization of our proposed material is possible for medical use
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