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E-beam Processing

Electron beam (E-beam) irradiation is a form of ionizing energy used for sterilization and the modification of plastic materials. The E-beam process is ideal for low-density, uniformly packaged products.

History of E-beam

  • 1920s – Development and patents on electron tubes
  • 1950s – First commercial irradiation facility built
  • 1970s – Medium voltage machines (3.0 to 4.5 MeV) are designed
  • 1990s – 10 MeV, high power machines became available
  • 2000s – Small, in-line systems are developed for in-house use

How does E-beam radiation work?

In E-beam processing, electrons are accelerated to very high speeds (near the speed of light) in order to increase their energy. These high speed, high energy electrons then penetrate products to achieve sterility by damaging the DNA strands of the microorganisms. Once damaged, these microorganisms are unable to reproduce, and are therefore considered sterile. Products remain sterile, provided the package integrity is maintained.

For plastic based products, the electrons interact with the polymer chain to produce either a cross-linking or chain scissioning effect. Product functionality testing after irradiation should be completed for all polymer materials to determine the effect of radiation exposure.

What is E-beam used for?

For many applications, particularly low density packed boxed goods,  electron beam processing can provide an extremely fast, economical alternative to other sterilization technologies. The comparatively higher dose rate may result in faster turn times and be more compatible with a wider range of device materials. It is also widely used to enhance certain physical properties of materials such as wire, cable, tubing, plastic parts and resin pellets that may become stronger or more durable after E-beam induced cross-linking of the material’s molecular structure.

What is the typical E-beam processing cycle?

  • Product arrives on a truck and is unloaded at the processing facility
  • Product is loaded in the conveyor tray or reel system, dosimeters are placed, and the product is exposed to the radiation field by passing under the scan horn
  • Monitoring dosimeters are analyzed while product is stored in the “processed” area
  • All documentation and processing history records are reviewed and, if they are acceptable and Customer specifications are met, the product is released and shipped for use or further distribution

What products are typically processed using E-beam?

  • Gauze products and other wound dressing materials
  • Labware such as bottles, petri dishes, centrifuge tubes and pipette tips
  • Tubing and other irrigation sets and components
  • A wide variety of industrial applications:
    • MIL spec wire and cable cross-linking
    • Heatshrink tubing and components
    • Mold parts for thermal and chemical property improvement
    • Semiconductor materials, diodes and thyristors for radiation induced damage
    • Gemstones for colorization