Determination of oleamide bulk‐to‐surface distribution in polypropylene for medical use depending on sterilization method and storage time

Oleamide is used as a lubricant in the manufacturing and application of polypropylene (PP) medical devices. Samples PP were prepared with 0, 1500, 15 000 ppm oleamide content lubricant. The samples either left non-sterile, sterilized ethylene oxide (ETO), γ-radiation (γ) or autoclaved (A) stored for up to 4 weeks. To determine bulk-to-surface distribution depending on sterilization method storage time an extraction washing technique applied. was determined by gas chromatography (GC-FID) compared coefficient friction (COF). COF dependent measured at surface. surface depends type sterilization: ETO increased some extent, γ-sterilization autoclaving reduced it. After storage, no migration could be detected.