While radiation sterilization has been used in the industrial market for many years, each system comes with inherent risks. One of the most common radiation systems used today is gamma sterilization. While its use is widespread, there are inherent issues with gamma radiation. What made gamma radiation so appealing initially was its high energy output. Controlled doses of gamma can deeply penetrate many materials, but such intense exposure is not needed to sterilize all products.
As anyone familiar with gamma radiation knows, it can be a dangerous if not shielded from workers in the area. While many gamma radiation sterilization systems used to utilize a radioscope with water shielding, gamma’s high energy output can be hazardous if not properly maintained. Due to the risks of this type of system, safer forms of Cobalt 60 (the source of gamma photons) are now used in most gamma sterilization. By comparison, electron beam sterilization only requires a concrete housing for the electron accelerator to ensure a safe work environment.
Because of gamma’s high output nature, material properties can change in unwanted ways as well. Color (yellow index), hardness, tensile strength and elongation, and tear strength can all change during the gamma sterilization process. Our electron beam process allows for more controlled dosages to ensure only the desired property changes occur. Also, our extensive experimentation process can help you decide what material modifications are possible with electron bombardment; another advantage of variable dosing with electron beam.
Electron Beam Advantages Over Gamma Sterilization
