This table provides compatibility guidelines for various polymers across common sterilization methods
Compatibility Key:
Good: Recommended
Fair: Acceptable, with potential limitations
Poor: Not recommended

Polymer CategoryPolymerAbbreviationAutoclaveDry HeatEthylene Oxide (EtO)Gamma IrradiationElectron Beam
BiopolymersPoly(L-lactide)PLLAFairGottGottGottGott
Polylactic acidPLAPoorFairGottGottGott
PolyhydroxybutyratePHBPoorPoorGottFairFair
Polyglycolic acidPGAGottGottGottGottGott
Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)PLGAPoorPoorGottFairFair
PolycaprolactonePCLFairGottGottGottGott
ElastomersSiliconesVMQ, PMQ, PVMQGottGottGottGottGott
Urethane thermoplastic elastomerTPUPoorFairGottGottGott
Copolyester thermoplastic elastomerTPCPoorGottGottGottGott
Polyamide thermoplastic elastomer???PoorPoorGottGottGott
Styrenic thermoplastic elastomerTPSPoorPoorGottGottGott
Olefinic thermoplastic elastomer???PoorFairGottGottGott
FluoropolymersPolytetrafluoroethylene¹PTFEFairFairGottPoorPoor
Fluorinated ethylene propyleneFEPGottGottGottFairFair
Perfluoro alkoxyPFAGottGottGottGottGott
Ethylene chlorotrifluoroethyleneECTFEGottGottGottGottGott
Ethylene tetrafluoroethyleneETFEGottGottGottGottGott
Polyvinyl fluoridePVFGottGottGottGottGott
Polyvinylidene difluoridePVF2GottGottGottGottGott
High-temp ThermoplasticsPolysulfonesPSUGottGottGottGottGott
Polyphenylene sulfidePPSGottGottGottGottGott
Liquid crystalline polymerLCPGottGottGottGottGott
PolyetherimidePEIFairFairGottGottGott
Polyamide-imidePAIFairFairGottGottGott
PolyetheretherketonePEEKGottGottGottGottGott
PolyamidesNylon 6, Nylon 66PA6, PA66FairFairGottFairFair
AromaticAPGottGottGottGottGott
Nylon 12, 6/12PA12PoorPoorGottFairFair
PolyestersPoly butylene terephthalatePBTFairFairGottGottGott
Poly ethylene terephthalatePETPoorPoorGottGottGott
CopolyestersPoorPoorGottGottGott
PolyolefinsHigh-density polyethyleneHDPEPoorPoorGottGottGott
Low-density polyethyleneLDPEPoorPoorGottGottGott
Ultrahigh molecular weight polyethyleneUHMWPEPoorPoorGottGottGott
Polypropylene¹PPGottFairGottFairFair
Polypropylene copolymersPPCGottFairGottFairFair
Cyclo olefin copolymerCOCFairFairGottGottGott
Polyvinyl chloride plasticized 1,2PVCFairFairGottGottGott
Polyvinyl chloride unplasticized 1,2PVCPoorPoorGottFairFair
Polystyrene / StyrenicsPolystyrenePSPoorPoorGottGottGott
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer (Abs)ABSPoorPoorGottGottGott
Styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer (San)SANPoorPoorGottGottGott
Acrylonitrile styrene acrylateASAPoorPoorGottGottGott
Methacrylate acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymerMABSPoorPoorGottGottGott
Styrene-butadiene copolymerSBCPoorPoorGottGottGott
Acrylics 1,2PMMAPoorPoorGottGottGott
Polycarbonates 1,2PCFairFairGottGottGott
High heat polycarbonatesPCGottGottGottGottGott
PolyurethanesPU, PURPoorPoorGottGottGott
AcetalsPOMGottGottGottPoorPoor

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