Degradation studies specimen containers

Kershaw, D., Still, R. H. and Bashford, V. G. Thermal degradation of polymers. VII. Ablation studies on a series of composite specimens containing asbestos fiber with various high-temperature resin binders. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 19, 959 (1975)... 

Blankenhorn et al. (219) studied aspen wood specimens that contained either white- or brown-rot fungal degradation using DSC and adiabatic... 

Immersions of polymer microtensile specimens in solutions of metal ions or lipid emulsions at elevated temperatures for 16 weeks have been reported [32]. Temperatures of 37, 70, and 90°C are recommended with sampling monthly to establish trends. For pacemaker leads, the solutions should include all the metals found within the device, a base, and an acid. For example, aqueous solutions of 1 M AgNOs or 0.1 M C0CI2 (acetylacetanoate) can assess oxidation. Immersion in 1 N acetic acid. Ringer s solution, and 1.0 N HCl can assess hydrolytic resistance. Immersion in 20% intralipid (soybean) emulsion can assess the propensity to absorb lipids. However, in our experience, none of the above in vitro tests appear to be reliably predictive of performance in pacemaker lead insulation. Why The in vivo environment cannot be duplicated in vitro. For example, the oxidation state of an ion varies as a function of what it is dissolved in. Distilled water containing a metal ion does not represent the environment within a lead. This accelerated test predicts that Ag+ will oxidize and degrade polyether polyurethanes while Co will not. Multiple in vivo studies clearly demonstrate exactly the opposite [14, 33]. Traces of cobalt will degrade the polymer in vivo whereas silver will not. 

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