Many plastic materials including polysulfone, Ultem®, PPSU, and PEEK can be used for medical devices where repeated steam sterilization is required. Medical applications for plastics include surgical instrument handles, sterilization trays, fluid handling couplings, and luer fittings.

The number of autoclave cycles that a plastic component will be able to withstand before deteriorating depends on the material, the autoclave settings, the part geometry, and the level of stress in the part.