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)PLLAFairPaiPaiPaiPai
Polylactic acidPLAPoorFairPaiPaiPai
PolyhydroxybutyratePHBPoorPoorPaiFairFair
Polyglycolic acidPGAPaiPaiPaiPaiPai
Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)PLGAPoorPoorPaiFairFair
PolycaprolactonePCLFairPaiPaiPaiPai
ElastomersSiliconesVMQ, PMQ, PVMQPaiPaiPaiPaiPai
Urethane thermoplastic elastomerTPUPoorFairPaiPaiPai
Copolyester thermoplastic elastomerTPCPoorPaiPaiPaiPai
Polyamide thermoplastic elastomer???PoorPoorPaiPaiPai
Styrenic thermoplastic elastomerTPSPoorPoorPaiPaiPai
Olefinic thermoplastic elastomer???PoorFairPaiPaiPai
FluoropolymersPolytetrafluoroethylene¹PTFEFairFairPaiPoorPoor
Fluorinated ethylene propyleneFEPPaiPaiPaiFairFair
Perfluoro alkoxyPFAPaiPaiPaiPaiPai
Ethylene chlorotrifluoroethyleneECTFEPaiPaiPaiPaiPai
Ethylene tetrafluoroethyleneETFEPaiPaiPaiPaiPai
Polyvinyl fluoridePVFPaiPaiPaiPaiPai
Polyvinylidene difluoridePVF2PaiPaiPaiPaiPai
High-temp ThermoplasticsPolysulfonesPSUPaiPaiPaiPaiPai
Polyphenylene sulfidePPSPaiPaiPaiPaiPai
Liquid crystalline polymerLCPPaiPaiPaiPaiPai
PolyetherimidePEIFairFairPaiPaiPai
Polyamide-imidePAIFairFairPaiPaiPai
PolyetheretherketonePEEKPaiPaiPaiPaiPai
PolyamidesNylon 6, Nylon 66PA6, PA66FairFairPaiFairFair
AromaticAPPaiPaiPaiPaiPai
Nylon 12, 6/12PA12PoorPoorPaiFairFair
PolyestersPoly butylene terephthalatePBTFairFairPaiPaiPai
Poly ethylene terephthalatePETPoorPoorPaiPaiPai
CopolyestersPoorPoorPaiPaiPai
PolyolefinsHigh-density polyethyleneHDPEPoorPoorPaiPaiPai
Low-density polyethyleneLDPEPoorPoorPaiPaiPai
Ultrahigh molecular weight polyethyleneUHMWPEPoorPoorPaiPaiPai
Polypropylene¹PPPaiFairPaiFairFair
Polypropylene copolymersPPCPaiFairPaiFairFair
Cyclo olefin copolymerCOCFairFairPaiPaiPai
Polyvinyl chloride plasticized 1,2PVCFairFairPaiPaiPai
Polyvinyl chloride unplasticized 1,2PVCPoorPoorPaiFairFair
Polystyrene / StyrenicsPolystyrenePSPoorPoorPaiPaiPai
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer (Abs)ABSPoorPoorPaiPaiPai
Styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer (San)SANPoorPoorPaiPaiPai
Acrylonitrile styrene acrylateASAPoorPoorPaiPaiPai
Methacrylate acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymerMABSPoorPoorPaiPaiPai
Styrene-butadiene copolymerSBCPoorPoorPaiPaiPai
Acrylics 1,2PMMAPoorPoorPaiPaiPai
Polycarbonates 1,2PCFairFairPaiPaiPai
High heat polycarbonatesPCPaiPaiPaiPaiPai
PolyurethanesPU, PURPoorPoorPaiPaiPai
AcetalsPOMPaiPaiPaiPoorPoor

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