Master Bond epoxy compatible with STERIS VHP sterilisation

This study was recently published in a peer-reviewed journal Polymer-Plastics Technology and Materials.

As medical devices have evolved through technological advancements, they have become more complex in both their design and materials of construction. Medical grade biocompatible epoxies are widely used in reusable medical devices. Choosing an epoxy that maintains its performance characteristics when subjected to repeated sterilisation throughout the reusable medical device’s lifespan is a known challenge for medical device manufacturers. This study evaluated the material compatibility of seven cured two part and one part epoxies used in medical devices following exposure to 100 cycles in a low temperature vaporized hydrogen peroxide steriliser.

Six of the seven epoxies tested were found to be compatible with vaporised hydrogen peroxide sterilisation based on qualitative, hardness, and weight measurements conducted post exposure to 100 VHP cycles. The epoxies deemed to be compatible displayed no visual signs of physical defects, minimal reduction in hardness (≤2%), and total weight gain (≤2.9%). This study highlights the importance of conducting material compatibility studies, and continued collaborations (among medical device manufacturers, steriliser manufacturers and epoxy manufacturers) during the early stages of medical device development to ensure a successful reusable medical device that will withstand repeated sterilisation.

Key findings from the study about Master Bond medical adhesive systems:

The Master Bond EP42HT-2Med, EP42HT-4AOMed Black, EP62-1HTMed, EP41S-5Med, EP4CL-80Med, and UV10TKMed epoxies are compatible with low temperature vaporised hydrogen peroxide, as they maintained their surface texture, exhibited less than 2% change in hardness, and displayed less than a 2.5% weight gain post exposure to 100 VHP cycles.