HI,

I am trying to find out the advantages and disadvantages of using paper pouches and tyvek pouches.

Gayle Shaw
QE Validation Microbiologist
Cryolife, Inc

Dear Gayle,

First of all, it will depend on the sterilzation process you want, or you need to use: ETO, Radiation, Plasma, Steam. Then, you will find different types of pouches made with different materials according to the sterilization process:

* PET / PP: Steam/ETO

* PET / PE: ETO/ R /PLASMA

* PA / PE: ETO /R

PA / PP: Vapeur/ETO

TYVEK: ETO / R

It is difficult to compare the micro-bacterial barrier properties for paper pouches and tyvek ones. They are not dedicated to be used in the same sterilization process, knowing that a Prion cycle 134°c 18 minutes for exemple, is not comparable to an ETO pocess.

Best Regards

Michael Fangon
Marketing Manager
Amcor Flexibles / SPS
00 33 1 64 75 60 00 (tel)
00 33 1 64 75 60 07 (fax)
00 33 6 71 58 21 40 (mobile)

Hello Gayle

Selecting the proper packaging material requires the consideration of the following three major factors: the nature of the device, the sterilization method, and the characteristics of the packaging materials.

Plastic peel pouches made of Tyvek on one side and a polyethylene/polyester lamination on the other side are made for ETO and gas plasma sterilization. They are superior to paper/plastic pouches in strength and moisture resistance - but have a low melting point i.e. they are unsuitable for steam Sterilization.

Paper/plastic pouches are made of medical grade paper heat sealed to a clear plastic film. They are available as flat or gusset pouches and as heat sealing and self-sealing pouches. The standard range is suitable for steam and gas sterilization. Because of the cellulose part of the paper material it cannot be used for gas plasma sterilization as the steriliant is absorbed by the material rather than passing through it to sterilize the contents.

You can find further information on the packaging manufacturer websites of, e.g., our industrial partners Wipak (Steriking) and Rexam. A Site search can be done for all packaging material by searching using key word(s): sterilization packaging material.

Kind regards
Josy Holdener