Medical device housings can crack, discolor, and become brittle or sticky after repeated exposure to aggressive disinfectants. The choice of plastic can therefore have a significant impact on the service life of a medical device.
To help manufacturers select a plastic that withstands the full spectrum of disinfectants used to prevent hospital-acquired infections, Eastman Chemical Co. has developed a simple test to measure the performance of different plastics. The replicable, four-step process demonstrates the impact resistance and durability of plastics after being exposed to disinfectants or other chemicals.