Evaluation of N atom transmission of N(2) flowing post-discharges for sterilization processes through modification of wettability of textiles

Abstract

Plasma sterilization has been extensively studied in recent years, and at present conditioning materials such as sterilization pouches or process indicators devoted to such processes should be optimized to allow transfer of the technology to the market. The present work evaluates the possibility of using wettability modification of hydrophobic textiles to detect whether Natoms of a flowing post-discharge in sterilization conditions (1 L/min, 100W) are able to freely cross a cellulose membrane (found on the permeable side of a conventional sterilization pouch) and exert their action. Results showed that N2 postdischarge treatment did not alter pore size of the membrane, and the use of tailored hydrophobic textiles was shown to be an appropriate indicator of N atom penetration inside the pouches. Depending on the initial hydrophobic treatment of the textiles, it is possible to detect differences in the density of atoms which crossed the membrane, being capable of distinguishing between parameters such as treatment time, or altered hydrodynamics of the chamber.