Foil Container Sterilization with Radiation Stabilizers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for sterilizing foil containers using electron or gamma radiation do not ensure a high degree of tightness, leading to potential permeability issues with moisture, germs, and volatile substances, which can affect the quality of contents such as food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of electron or gamma radiation to sterilize foil containers while ensuring their tightness by maintaining the integrity of the container material, specifically polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride, which prevents the penetration of external factors and retention of volatile substances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electron or gamma radiation is used to sterilize foil containers, then sterilization is achieved, but tightness and impermeability are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the plastic material by adding specific irradiation stabilizers (nitrogen-containing compounds like triazoles and tetrazoles) that modify how the material responds to radiation, preventing the harmful effects of permeability increase while maintaining sterilization effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The irradiation stabilizer acts as an intermediary substance between the radiation and the plastic matrix, absorbing the harmful effects of ionizing radiation and preventing them from damaging the plastic's tightness and barrier properties
2Object-affected harmful factors
If ionizing radiation is applied to sterilize packaging, then germs are eliminated, but material integrity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of ionizing radiation into a beneficial process by using the radiation to activate and generate free radicals from the stabilizer compounds, which then protect the plastic matrix from radiation-induced degradation and maintain material integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The addition of nitrogen-containing stabilizers changes the chemical composition and radiation response parameters of the plastic, transforming it from a radiation-sensitive material to a radiation-resistant material that maintains its mechanical and barrier properties after sterilization
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method effectively maintains the tightness of foil containers, as demonstrated by unchanged helium permeability and absence of color changes or delamination, even after storage, ensuring the quality and safety of the contents.
Implementation Method 1
checking the tightness of a foil container sterilized with electron or gamma radiation
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for sterilizing a film container for holding articles, foods, cosmetics, medical implants, medical plasters, medical auxiliaries, microbiological tools or a pharmaceutical active substance formulation, a method for testing the leaktightness of a film container sterilized by electron radiation or gamma radiation, and a film container for use in the methods.