Lubricious radiation stable polymeric composition and articles therefrom

A composition comprising polypropylene having a crystalline content of 30 to 70 percent and a weight distribution wherein the ratio of the weight average molecular weight to the number average molecular weight is about 2 to 4, a mobilizing amount of a substantially nonviscous liquid mobilizer selected from the group consisting of a hydrocarbon oil and a phthalic ester oil, a radiation stabilizing amount of a hindered bis(4-piperidinyl) diester of a dicarboxylic acid stabilizer, a clarifying amount of a dibenzylidene sorbitol clarifier and a lubricating amount of erucyl erucamide.

A shaped radiation-sterilized article which is flexible and lubricious comprising a shaped, radiation sterilized composition comprising a polyolefin having a crystalline content of about 20 to 90 percent and a weight distribution wherein the ratio of the weight average molecular weight to the number average molecular weight is no greater than 6, a mobilizing amount of a liquid mobilizer compatible with said polyolefin having a density of about 0.6 to 1.9 grams per cubic centimeter, a radiation stabilizing amount of a hindered piperidine stabilizer and a lubricating amount of erucyl erucamide.

A shaped radiation-sterilized article which is flexible and lubricious comprising a shaped, radiation sterilized composition comprising a semicrystalline polyolefin having a weight distribution wherein the ratio of the weight average molecular weight to the number average molecular weight is no greater than 9.0, a mobilizing amount of a noncrystalline mobilizing additive which is compatible with said polyolefin and which increases the free volume of said polyolefin, a radiation stabilizing amount of a hindered amine stabilizer and a lubricating amount of erucyl erucamide.

A shaped radiation-sterilized article which is flexible and lubricious comprising a shaped, radiation sterilized composition comprising polypropylene having a crystalline content of 30 to 70 percent and a weight distribution wherein the ratio of the weight average molecular weight to the number average molecular weight is about 2 to 4, a mobilizing amount of a substantially nonviscous liquid mobilizer selected from the group consisting of a hydrocarbon oil and a phthalic ester oil, a radiation stabilizing amount of a hindered bis(4-piperidinyl) diester of a dicarboxylic acid stabilizer, a clarifying amount of a dibenzylidene sorbitol clarifier, and a lubricating amount erucyl erucamide.