Influence of the sterilization process on the fabric hand and material perception of nonwovens used for surgical gowns

Abstract

Radiation sterilization can be accomplished using one of two forms of radiation: gamma and electron beam. The material investigated is those used in close proximity to human skin, such as the material applied in nonwoven based single-use surgical gowns, considered also an medical device, and irradiated with the radiation doses of 25, 80 and 160 kGy. The objective measurement was carried out obtaining the hand value (HV) and Total Hand Value (THV) with the Kawabata Evaluation System for the tested material. The gamma radiation increase the total hand value in the standardized dose range, so we can indicate that for the user, as a physiological point of view, the gown irradiated after gamma radiation are more comfortable than after electron beam radiation.