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AssigneeKimberly-Clark Corporation
InventorsJulia T. Ambrose, Charles E. Bolian, II, Stephen E. Ellis, Jeffery H. Worthington
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The invention provides a method for reducing or eliminating the odors commonly produced by the sterilization of polyolefin-based products by gamma radiation. In addition, the invention also provides a method for minimizing the amount of fabric strength loss associated with the irradiation process and a method for actually increasing the fabric strength of a polyethylene that has been irradiated. Both the reduction in odors and the minimization of strength or increase in polyolefin strength are achieved in methods comprising the use of an oxygen scavenger. The invention further includes the use of non-gamma stabilized polyolefins. The polyolefinic product may also include an odor mask that may be used to mask any residual odor.
A method for reducing the undesirable side effects associated with the irradiation of a polyolefin-based product comprising the step of exposing said polyolefin-based product to an oxygen scavenger, both of which are in or a part of a sealed container prior to said irradiation.
A method for reducing odors associated with the sterilization by irradiation of polyolefin-based products comprising the steps of:
A method for reducing strength loss associated with the sterilization of a polyolefin-based product that has a pre-sterilization strength comprising the steps of:
A method for increasing the strength of a polyethylene-based product comprising:
A method for preventing the formation of oxygenated compounds that are formed after a polyolefinic product is exposed to gamma radiation in the presence of oxygen comprising the steps of placing said polyolefinic product and an oxygen scavenger in a sealed container and irradiating said product and container with gamma radiation at a level of exposure sufficient to sterilize said product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.