{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,24]],"date-time":"2026-03-24T14:33:42Z","timestamp":1774362822301,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":33,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,24]],"date-time":"2026-03-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1774310400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Universidad de Las Am\u00e9ricas (UDLA), Universidad UTE"},{"name":"Direcci\u00f3n de Investigaci\u00f3n of the Universidad Central del Ecuador","award":["DI-CONV-017-2022"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["DI-CONV-017-2022"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JFB"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Fused deposition modeling (FDM) of carbon fiber-reinforced polycarbonate (PC-CF) is increasingly used in medical applications due to its excellent strength-to-weight ratio and adaptability for custom geometries. However, sterilization is a critical step that may compromise the structural integrity of polymer composites. This study investigates the effects of two low-temperature sterilization methods\u2014ethylene oxide (EO) and hydrogen peroxide vapor (HP)\u2014on the mechanical, thermal, and viscoelastic properties of FDM-printed PC-CF parts. Characterization included tensile, impact, and hardness tests; thermomechanical analysis (TMA); and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). EO sterilization resulted in approximately 20% reduced elongation at break and lower glass transition temperature, indicating a loss of ductility and thermal stability. HP-treated samples showed reduced stiffness (16% in Young modulus) but increased Tg and reduced thermal expansion, suggesting improved dimensional stability. DMA results confirmed distinct viscoelastic behavior between treatment types. These findings provide evidence for selecting appropriate sterilization protocols for FDM-manufactured PC-CF components used in functional medical devices.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jfb17040159","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,24]],"date-time":"2026-03-24T12:58:59Z","timestamp":1774357139000},"page":"159","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Sterilization-Induced Property Changes in FDM-Printed Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polycarbonate for Medical Device Applications"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"17","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6863-4104","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Abel","family":"Remache","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Carrera de Ingenier\u00eda Mec\u00e1nica, Facultad de Ingenier\u00eda y Ciencias Aplicadas, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito EC170125, Ecuador"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9319-8815","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Wilson","family":"Pavon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Facultad de Ciencias de la Ingenier\u00eda e Industrias, Universidad UTE, Quito EC170129, Ecuador"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0000-5066-1673","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Oscar Jara","family":"Vinueza","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Facultad de Arquitectura y Dise\u00f1o, Universidad de Las Am\u00e9ricas UDLA, Quito EC170125, Ecuador"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0001-8144-5153","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Josseline","family":"Chicaiza","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Carrera de Dise\u00f1o Industrial, Facultad de Ingenier\u00eda y Ciencias Aplicadas, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito EC170125, Ecuador"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0342-643X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jorge Mauricio","family":"Fuentes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Carrera de Ingenier\u00eda Mec\u00e1nica, Facultad de Ingenier\u00eda y Ciencias Aplicadas, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito EC170125, Ecuador"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0008-9743-373X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Homero","family":"Cadena","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Carrera de Ingenier\u00eda Mec\u00e1nica, Facultad de Ingenier\u00eda y Ciencias Aplicadas, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito EC170125, Ecuador"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,24]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"67","DOI":"10.3727\/194982413X13608676060655","article-title":"Additive Manufacturing as a Disruptive Technology: Implications of Three-Dimensional Printing","volume":"15","author":"Campbell","year":"2013","journal-title":"Technol. 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