Cyclic Peel Evaluation of Sterilized Medical Packaging
22nd Annual Meeting of the Adhesion Society, Proceedings, pp.116-118, (1999)

J.C. CONTI1,2, E.R. Strope2, R. Gregory3

1 Department of Physics, Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield, MO
2 Dynatek Dalta Scientific Instruments, Inc., Galena, MO
3 Springfield Applied Mathematics, Springfield, MO


Peel testing is a standard way of evaluating the fundamental adhesion properties and work of adhesion necessary to separate an adhesive joint. It has been demonstrated that single pull peel testing does not always predict joint failures that can occur as a result of cyclic loading at sub-critical loading levels.

A series of experiments was carried out to evaluate the rate of peel of a joint located in a heat-sealed medical package used to house synthetic vascular grafts.

Experimental:

Four samples of Tower DualPeel Tubing® distributed by Baxter Health Care Corporation that had been heat-sealed using manufacturer's recommended procedures were cut into 1/8 inch wide strips across the seal. These strips were prepared such that, when mounted into the cyclic peel tester, the exposed region of the joint representing the inside of the package was being peeled. These samples were exposed to a 180 degree peel test at a rate of 250 microns per second. These data were analyzed to determine the load at first yield. After the single pull testing was completed, fresh samples were then exposed to sub-critical loading at 5 and 10 Hz to determine the rate of peel.

Results:

The load to first yield of the samples varied from 427 to 480 millinewtons. When additional samples were exposed to cyclic loading at a level of 240 millinewtons, the seals opened at a rate dependent upon the frequency of the test. At 5 Hz, the joints peeled at a rate of 10 microns per minute. At a testing frequency of 10 Hz, the joint opened up at only 3.5 microns per minute.

Additional frequencies and static creep tests are underway to further evaluate this adhesive joint design.

Dynatek Dalta Scientific Instruments, PO Box 254, Galena, MO 65656
Phone: 1-417-357-6155 FAX: 1-417-357-6327 dynatek@dynatekdalta.com