Heat is the oldest and possibly the most recognized agent of microbial destruction and is the most popular method of terminal sterilization used in the pharmaceutical industry. Costs for moist-heat sterilization, if contracted out, are similar to that of EO sterilization, in that you typically pay by the chamber where chamber sizes can range from 1 to 30 pallet sizes. Moist-heat sterilization is typically performed at 121 to 134 °C. A major concern is the degradation of materials by heat or moisture. Moist heat, however, can be successful with a range of products such as acetal,  glass, liquids, polypropylene , PTFE, fibers, and celluloses. 

Moist-heat sterilization, in that it is a terminal sterilization process, can be validated to an SAL of 10^-6. This, of course, provides a greater assurance of not producing a “non-sterile” product as compared to filtration.

AAMI TIR 17:2008, Compatibility of materials subject to sterilization, provides excellent information with regarding to Moist-Heat sterilization, as well as all other methods of terminal sterilization, and its effects on materials. You can purchase AAMI TIR 17:2008 at www.aami.org