Chemical Indicator Inks Are Specially Used In The Sterile Barrier Systems For Providing Visual Evidence To A Sterilization Process By Changing Color

Chemical Indicator Inks 

Chemical indicator inks are used in various end-use industries such as chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare to monitor and confirm the sterilization process. There has been an increasing demand for medical sterilization processes in hospitals and other healthcare facilities worldwide. Indicator ink compositions are fixed to a surface of an article and comprise a water-based dispersion containing phenol-formaldehyde resin. The composition can be formulated to react under certain conditions, thereby changing color if the article is exposed to a specific sterilization process. The composition may be a fixed or removable ink and can be applied to a wide variety of articles such as surgical instruments, disposable medical equipment, prefilled syringes, and IV pouches.

Tempilinks are inks formulated to change color under a variety of sterilization conditions, most commonly printed using flexographic or gravure printing methods. They are primarily used in Sterile Barrier Systems (SBS) to provide visual evidence of exposure to a sterilization process, such as an oven, a steamer, or a vacuum sealer. According to Coherent Market Insights the Chemical Indicator Inks Market Size, Share, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2022-2028.

These indicators can be formulated to change color under various of conditions, including time, temperature, pressure, energy, and the presence or absence of certain chemicals. The composition can be formulated to react to a specific set of conditions, such as a dry saturated steam cycle for 10 minutes at 121deg C. +3/-0 K or a wet saturated steam cycle for 2 minutes at 134deg C. +3/-0 K, or under any combination of these conditions.

Examples of a fixed indicator ink composition include a phthalate-free polymer-based indicator ink composed of a phosphate-modified cellulose dispersion. The phenol-formaldehyde is preferably a copolymer or polymer.

The composition may be a polymer-based indicator ink composed of a polyamide curing agent which contains an amine-terminated polyamide cross-linking agent for the phenol-formaldehyde. The amine-terminated polyamide is preferably a cyanoacrylate.

Centrient Pharmaceuticals signed an agreement for acquiring Astral SteriTech Private Limited, in February 2021. With this acquisition, Centrient will strengthen its position in beta-lactam antibiotics market.