Covestro develops new copolycarbonate with high heat resistance for medical application

Covestro developed Apec 2045, a copolycarbonate with the highest heat resistance, which enables molder and medical OEMs to significantly reduce production time and cost, without sacrificing quality, performance and appearance.

Covestro’s new high-heat copolycarbonate is designed for medical devices with molded-in seals and healthcare applications requiring hot air sterilization at up to 180°C.

Apec 2045 copolycarbonate offers a list of important benefits for molders and medical OEMs, including

• Durability: Tough engineering plastic with the highest heat resistance in medical polycarbonate portfolio

• Transparency: Produces transparent parts with high optical clarity

• Biocompatible: Biocompatibility testing according to ISO 10993-1 and USP Class VI for contact of 30 days or less

• Sterilizable: Supports sterilization methods that are common in the healthcare industry, including irradiation, autoclave and hot air

• Processability: Consistent and efficient processing

Overmolding polycarbonate with liquid silicone rubber (LSR) is commonly used to produce respiratory masks and other medical devices requiring molded-in seals. The new polycarbonate is made for highest curing temperature in silicone over-molding, which allows healthcare customers to double production volumes due to shorter cycle times.

Pierre Moulinie, Global Healthcare Technology Lead, Covestro LLC, added that the company can help customers calculate possible savings when switching to new high-heat Apec copolycarbonate grade, such as simulating material performance in specific applications and calculating cost benefits with our LSR calculator tool.