Lubrizol launches medical-grade TPU for interventional medical devices

Lubrizol launched Tecothane Soft AR-65 TPU – a medical-grade thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) for the flexible edge of interventional-device design, combining very soft 65A performance with chemical resistance, thin-wall processability, and the manufacturing versatility of a 100% TPU.

Lubrizol’s Tecothane Soft AR-65 TPU is designed for interventional medical devices. (Source: Lubrizol)

Performance benefits of Tecothane Soft AR-65 TPU include:

•    100% very soft TPU: Reaches 65A Shore hardness without blending or additives.

•    Chemical resistance beyond softness: Demonstrates excellent chemical resistance to support catheter performance during use.

•    Thin-wall processing capability: Provides a material option for low-profile, highly flexible components where softness and manufacturability matter.

•    Designed to integrate: Supports established joining methods, including reflow, solvent, laser, and RF welding, for use in complex, multi-segmented constructions.

•    A platform for customization: Compatible with hydrophilic coatings and can be customized to address broader device requirements.

Designed for neurovascular, peripheral vascular, and cardiac delivery catheters, Tecothane Soft AR-65A supports design opportunities that benefit from both material softness and processing versatility.

Its properties can help enable softer distal sections, slimmer profiles, and complex device architectures while supporting the processing and integration required for reliable manufacturing.

“Our medical TPU portfolio, including Tecothane, Tecoflex, and Pellethane medical-grade TPU, offers designers material options for the performance, manufacturability, and design requirements needed for next-generation medical devices,” said Jennifer Green, Sr. Global Technical Business Development Manager.

Tecothane Soft TPU made debut at MD&M Midwest 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on October 28–29.