Does anyone have any experience with autoclavable nylon film as a packaging material? I have seen it recently in a catalogue; it is supplied in bag form or flat reels, sealable by bowie-dick tape (how?) or heat. It claims to be re-usable(?!) but doesn't state how many times etc,.

Any information would be gratefully received.

Many thanks
James Gasson

Dear James

Up to now, nylon has failed to make any impact as an in-hospital sterilization packaging material. As nylon tolerates the high temperatures of dry-heat sterilization, nylon pouches and rolls are often used to package dental instruments, closed by dry-heat indicator tape.
Nylon cannot be used for steam or ethylene oxide sterilization because it is impervious to moisture vapor. And it is not stable to irradiation.
As it is true for all types of packaging - manufactures must document that the material is suitable for the specific sterilization methods, closure-technique, - for anything which it is recommended.

Kind regard
Josy Holdener

Dear James,

In our Steriking(R) sterilization packaging range there are so called HR - hot air reels designed for hot air sterilization. Tubing is constructed from a transparent, heat resistant polyamide (PA, "nylon") film and can be sealed either with hot air tape or with an impulse heat sealer. As Mrs Holdener wrote it should be always checked what kind of packing material should be used ( autoclave manufacturer) and accordingly which sterilization methods each packing material withstand (packing manufacturers).

Anneli Haikonen,
Wipak Medical