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New Innovations - Expanding horizons for
Thermoplastic Elastomers in Medical Applications
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A glimpse from Molay Das - Kuraray India on
how the new generation TPE’s finds the way to resolve several safety and
performance issues... Within the medical industry,
demand is rising for safe and halogen-free polymers used in manufacturing
medical products. Many polymer companies are feeling the need with new
materials like thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs). For several decades, the
medical industry has relied upon styrenic block copolymers (SBCs), a type of
TPE, for use in a range of medical products. TPE process easily, have
excellent mechanical properties and elasticity, and possess strong haptic.
Their inherent low toxicity and compliance to medical and food contact
regulations make TPEs a safe choice for specifying materials for use.
With more than 30 different types of TPEs with individual
product properties, Kuraray offers a diverse portfolios for the medical
market. These TPEs are safe and non-toxic and offer flexibility and
performance in the design of medical products where superior performance and
safety is needed most.
Kuraray’s TPE products, SEPTON™ and HYBRAR™ combine the
elastic properties of rubber with the benefits of thermoplastics. Due to
this thermoplastic nature, they can be processed into almost any shape.
These TPEs have a soft touch and provide comfort and durability. |
Mr. Molay Das
Manager, Market Development
Kuraray India Pvt. Ltd. |
Distinguished by their high clarity, non-allergenic characteristics, and easy
process ability, SEPTON™ and HYBRAR™ are perfect for applications such as
medical tubes and pouches, orthopedic gels, elastic nonwovens and films, patch
adhesives, and medical bags.
Medical Tubes :
As environmental standards increase, medical tubes are now being replaced with
polymers such as HYBRAR™ as a costeffective solution for soft-touch
applications. Due to its toughness, transparency, flexibility and physical
properties, HYBRAR™ meets many of the new characteristics needed for medical
tubing. This TPE has excellent miscibility with polypropylene (PP) and has high
affinity to polyolefins and styrenics making it extremely transparent and easy
to process. HYBRAR™ blends with PP are soft, transparent, offer good kink
resistance, have high-temperature performance and are solvent bondable. In
comparison to PVC, Kuraray HYBRAR™ has similar physical properties but lower
density. Being halogen and phthalate free, HYBRAR™ meets many of the
environmental and safety standards that PVC cannot meet. Moreover, compounds
made out of HYBRAR™ and PP have high tensile and excellent impact strength. The
polymer structure of HYBRAR™ also ensures relatively good oxygen and moisture
permeability compared to other elastomers.
The below graph shows the range of properties possible when blending HYBRAR™
with various ratios of PP.
Orthopedic Gels :
Kuraray’s SEPTON™ is a series of high-performance, thermoplastic rubbers that
are based on Kuraray’s SEEPS technology. Styrene Ethylene Ethylene-Propylene
Styrene (SEEPS) grades are comprised of copolymers with both isoprene and
butadiene in the midblock. SEPTON™ 4,000 Series can be used to create orthopedic
gels. The SEPTON™ 4000 Series provide orthopedic gels with their necessary
stability and super soft characteristics giving the products a natural skin-like
feel and performance over a broad temperature range. With their low specific
gravity and high tear strength characteristics, these products can replace
silicone in various applications. Additionally, characteristics like lower melt
viscosity, excellent low temperature behavior and superior process-ability at a
low shear rate ensure enhanced overall process-ability and production
efficiency.
Developed for high-performance products where long lasting stability and
compression set are key requirements, SEPTON™ 4000 Series can be used in
applications such as cushions for artificial limbs, orthopedic bandages,
prostheses and burn plasters. Their excellent shock absorbing and damping
properties combined with non-allergenic qualities meet the high demands in this
industry.
The below graph shows the comparison of tear strength and density of SEPTON™ to
Silicone and Urethane Gels.
Medical Bags :
Kuraray’s SEPTON™ and HYBRAR™ lines are suitable for dry blending in film
extrusion processes, most often found in the manufacturing of medical bags. Both
TPEs show maximum softness and elasticity. Due to their excellent compatibility
with polyolefins, they allow great flexibility to create film properties that
normally cannot be achieved with commodity polyolefin resins alone. They perform
well in high temperatures, can be sterilized and can be down-gauged due to their
improved impact resistance. Furthermore, there is no migration of PVC
plasticizer as compared to PVC bags.
In the field of flexible packaging films made from polyethylene and
polypropylene, HYBRAR™ offers various grades that can be added for specific
customization. Compared to plastomers or Polyolefin elastomers, these materials
perform in the lowest concentrations necessary to achieve maximum value. The
main advantage is impact resistance for down-gauging purposes. Specifically for
polypropylene, HYBRAR™ can reduce the Sealing Initial Temperature (SIT) up to 10
degrees.
Elastic Nonwovens and Films :
As elastic nonwovens and films continue to grow their presence in the market, so
have the needs to maintain optimal cost performance balance.
Kuraray’s SEPTON™ 4000 Series is designed for high-performing elasticity making
them an excellent solution for many elastic nonwovens and films. For consumers,
the main advantage is higher comfort and a decrease in creep resistance. These
distinct properties further lead to down-gauging probabilities. Also,
significant material savings – as much as 40 percent lower material usage and 40
percent weight reduction over competitive products – can be achieved while
maintaining mechanical properties, compared to other thermoplastic elastomers.
Kuraray’s SEPTON™ 4000 series combines the strength of SEBS with the softness
expected of SBS and SIS elastomers.
Patch Adhesives :
Various products within Kuraray’s SEPTON™ line can be processed for patch
adhesives. The SEPTON™ 4000 Series can be used when there is a need for products
with extremely high cleanliness. Their well-balanced adhesion and cohesion force
makes patch adhesives with SEPTON™ products easy to peel off. For the consumer
this means better comfort without the risk of causing allergies.
Medical applications today are becoming more demanding from both a performance
and safety standpoint. This requires materials that go beyond standard SBCs that
satisfy value added solutions in a variety processing technologies and end use
conditions. SBCs continued advancement in extrusion and injection molding
process development further drive adoption into new application areas. Due to
the concerns with Poly-Vinyl Chloride (PVC), SBCs offer a safer and more
environmentally friendly alternative with comparable performance. As the market
continues to evolve, so has technology, with new materials.
Kuraray India is focused on marketing of Kuraray special polymers to meet the
emerging requirements from Indian market in combination with technical supports
and excellent services to the customers. |
