Lubrizol showcases first medical-grade flame retardant TPUs
The Lubrizol Corporation's Lubrizol LifeSciences showcased its broad portfolio of advanced materials for the medical industry at the MEDTEC China 2014. Highlights included breathable polymers for wound care, flame retardant thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) for medical devices, medical-grade TPUs for intravenous (IV) tubing and soft polymers as a replacement for silicones and rubbers.
According to the company, among the featured product portfolios showcased were Tecothane TPUs, which are the first medical-grade TPUs that also offer flame-retardant properties. As said, this new solution for medical devices is ideal for equipment that has direct contact with electronic connections such as touchscreen monitors, pressure cuffs, EKG cables, sensor cables and more.
Lubrizol says it reduces the risk of fire spreading - an especially critical feature in home care and medical applications where the growing use of electronics can mean an increased probability of equipment short-circuiting.
At the exhibition, Pellethane aromatic TPUs for use in flexible IV set tubing applications were also highlighted. Pellethane 2683-80AE delivers a highly favorable cost-performance balance, excellent biocompatibility, kink resistance and ease of processing. It provides a flexural modulus ranging from 1,000 to 190,000 psi and comes in hardnesses from Shore 80A to 75D. The material withstands ethylene-oxide and gamma radiation sterilization and passes all ISO 10993 biological toxicity testing.
Lubrizol also discussed its recently launched Pellethane TPU products for wound care and medical device applications. New Pellethane TPU grades, 5863-82A, 5863-82AE, 5863-85A, and 5863-90A, provide a high moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) for film wound care applications. This allows wounds to breathe, but prevents water, microbes and other particles from entering.
In addition, the expanded line of Tecothane Soft polymers was also showcased. Designed specifically for medical applications, these new soft polymers offer an alternative to materials such as rubbers and silicones, while providing the benefits of a thermoplastic polymer. Mechanical properties include strong tear resistance, excellent resilience and recoverability, and several material hardnesses.
MEDTEC China 2014 was held from Sept. 25-26 in Shanghai, China.
