Characterization of Radiation Sterilization-Tolerant Polysulfones Free from Bisphenol A

抄録

An aromatic polysulfone (PS) consists of a 4, 4'-diol aromatic compound and 4, 4'-dichiorodiphenyl sulfone. As 4, 4'-diol aromatic compounds, bisphenol A, p-dihydroxy benzene, 4, 4'-diphenol methane and p, p'-diphenol (bisphenol) were used for the fabrication of new PSs. These PSs were tested to see which PS would show the greatest tolerance to gamma ray irradiation. Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) production from irradiated PSs was used as an indicator to evaluate their stability. The bisphenol-PS was the most tolerant to the gamma ray irradiation and had the smallest production of SO₂. This indicated that a PS free from bisphenol A was obtainable. A fabricated PS tolerates to gamma ray irradiation and is safer to people due to the absence of bisphenol A, an endocrine disrupter. The rate of decrease of tensile strength correlated well with the order of radiation resistance. The fracture toughness of bisphenol A-PS decreased with irradiation doses, but bisphenol-PS almost maintained its original ductility.