"Xiaohua" Brand Cobalt‑60 Sterilisation Grade PVC Plastic for Blood (Infusion) Transfusion Devices Launched

Sterilisation methods for PVC plastic used in disposable medical consumables for blood (infusion) transfusion devices fall into two categories: chemical and physical. Chemical sterilisation leaves chemical residues, and if not thoroughly removed, these residues can pose safety risks to the human body. To overcome this drawback, physical sterilisation methods are safer and more reliable. Cobalt‑60 sterilisation is one such physical method, effectively avoiding the chemical residue issues associated with chemical sterilisation.

However, the strong penetrating radiation of Cobalt‑60 can cause chain scission in PVC molecules, generating free radicals from the C–Cl and C–H bonds. This triggers dehydrochlorination, releasing HCl and forming conjugated double bonds along the molecular chain, which causes the PVC material to turn yellow or brown and compromises its strength and flexibility. To solve this problem, the "Xiaohua" brand developed a unique formulation for its Cobalt‑60 sterilisation series of medical‑grade PVC pellets. After numerous validation tests, the product was launched in 2005 and is capable of withstanding sterilisation doses of up to 25 kGy.