Modeling the degradation of natural rubber male condoms

• Published in: Journal of applied polymer science Vol. 120; no. 2; pp. 839 - 849
• Main Authors: Bó, Maria Cristina, Gerofi, John Paul, Nunes, Regina Célia R, Pinto, José Carlos
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 15-04-2011; Wiley; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: accelerated aging; Application fields; Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Birth control; Bursting; Condoms; Decay; Degradation; Exact sciences and technology; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; lifetime prediction; Materials science; Mathematical analysis; Mathematical models; Medical sciences; modeling; Natural rubber; Other methods of contraception. Sterilization; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Polymers; Reproduction; Technology of polymers; South America; Brazil; America; Experimental test; condoms; Condom; Thermal ageing; lifetime prediction; Theoretical study; Mechanical properties; Natural rubber; Shelf life; Modeling; accelerated aging; Bursting strength; Artificial ageing; Numerical simulation; Contraceptive; Commercial form; Exposure time; Application; Activation energy
• ISSN: 0021-8995; 1097-4628; 1097-4628
• DOI: 10.1002/app.33217

Most condom manufacturers claim a 5 year shelf-life for their products; however, condoms can decay much more rapidly than the reported shelf-life would suggest, because of the uncontrolled storage conditions. For this reason, development of mathematical model to predict condom shelf-life as a function of storage conditions can be very useful. In this work, six brands of condoms were aged under subtropical ambient conditions for 5 years and under accelerated conditions at four temperatures for various times. The changes in burst pressure and burst volume were used as the main indicators of product degradation. Experimental data were analyzed and two mathematical models (both based on the reparameterized Arrhenius equation) were proposed to describe the obtained data. It is shown for the first time that it is possible to estimate and predict the degradation of natural rubber condoms with confidence with the help of the proposed models, based on data obtained from accelerated degradation experiments, provided that different activation energies are used for the burst pressure and volume.