Since the introduction of IUD to the industry more than 30 years ago, DuPont Tyvek brand protective material has been recognized as a standard of excellence for medical packaging. Tyvek earned this distinction because it provides a higher degree of protection for medical devices and supplies than any other porous material used for sterile packaging applications.

The unique structure of Tyvek gives it inherent advantages over other materials. Specifically, Tyvek offers:

Superior Tear Strength And Puncture Resistance
The tough, continuous fibers of Tyvek protect package integrity from both product breakthrough inside and rough handling outside. Tyvek is so tough, it resists punctures - even from the irregular or sharp edges of many surgical devices.

Excellent Barrier To Microbial Penetration
The number-one priority in selecting packaging materials for medical devices is the ability of the package to maintain sterility from the point of sterilization until it is opened for the product to be used.

Even under the most rigorous conditions in highly contaminated environment, Tyvek is highly resistant to penetration by bacteria spores and other contaminating microorganisms. Bacteriological tests clearly demonstrate that Tyvek outperforms other commercially available porous packaging materials, including medical-grade papers. Comprehensive shelf-life studies have shown that Tyvek can maintain sterility for at least five years if package integrity is not compromised.

(The photomicrographs shown here illustrate how bacterias are trapped on the fiber surfaces of Tyvek

Figure 1.

Figure 1. Scanning electron micrographs (SEMs) of Tyvek.
The unique structure of Tyvek, which creates a tortuous path with substantial lateral movement, result in superior microbial barrier properties

Figure 2.

Figure 2. Microbial barrier test results.
Per ASTMF1608. Microbial barrier is the measure of the ability of a porous substrate to prevent bacteria penetration. A completely impermeable control sample (microbial penetration is zero) is challenged with One million or 10..... colony forming units (cfu). The number of cfu 10.... has a log value of 6. If a sample challenged in the same way as the control allows 10 cfu (log 10 = 1) to penetrate, then its log reduction value (LRV) is 5 (6 - 1 = 5). Therefore, the higher the LRV, the more resistant the packaging is to bacteria and microorganisms.

Superior Tear Strength And Puncture Resistance
The touch, continuous fibers of Tyvek protect package integrity from product breakthrough and also from penetration by an object outside the packaging during rough handling. Compared to medical-grade papers, Tyvek provides superior puncture resistance and tear strength, which means that Tyvek does not puncture easily and tears do not readily propagate if a package is nicked.

Tyvek is up to eight times stronger than medical-grade paper of equal or greater basis weight, so it resists punctures even from the irregular or sharp edges of many surgical devices. In contrast, one small tear in a package made of medical-grade paper can contaminate a sterilized device and compromise the entire sterile field.

Figure 3.

Figure 3. Elmendorf Tear (MD) test results.
Per ASTM D1424 and DIN EN 21974. Elmendorf Tear measures the force required to propagate an initiated tear from a cut or a nick. MD signifies machine director. The higher the value, the less likely a material will tear under force.

PerfectFlex 35726 Medical Packaging Film - Film-pouches
SMB also provides IUD in Medical Packaging film with Grade 35726.




Special Features :

Applications :
Excellent material for film to film pouches.
Excellent material to withstand most of type of Sterilization like :