Material selection for medical tube applications

Highly-transparent, flexible, kink-resistant, sterilizable, PVC- and plasticizer-free, customized – these are the properties of ACTEGA's ProvaMed® TPE portfolio which will be presented at the K trade fair from October 19 to 26 in Düsseldorf, at Stand F113 in Hall 8A.

In the growth market for medical tubes, where the trend is moving away from off-the-shelf tubes toward customized tube applications, ACTEGA has further improved the formulations for its ProvaMed® portfolio – based on new styrene elastomers – to meet the key requirements placed on medical tubing as well as special customer requirements. For example, the TPE formulations display an excellent degree of transparency. This is an important factor wherever the flow of fluids needs to be highly visible or the position of the tubing in the body must be visible and traceable – using X-ray contrasting strips. The high-purity, transparent and elastic material is smooth, flexible and kink-resistant. This means nothing stands in the way of the unimpeded flow of gases or liquids.

Other important points include good recovery behavior and damping properties, enabling hoses to return to their original shape after deformation, for example. These are indispensable properties for the development of catheter hoses or peristaltic pumps. According to the Drug Master File, the compounds have been approved in accordance with USPVI and ISO 10993 and are free of PVC, silicone, latex and plasticizers. This also means that they are entirely allergen-free and any interaction between tubing material and pharmaceutical or endogenous substances, which could have an adverse effect on the human organism, can be avoided. Like the entire ProvaMed® portfolio, the formulations are sterilizable with gamma radiation or ethylene oxide and can be processed by extrusion, coextrusion or, in some cases, injection-molding.

ACTEGA is a division of the internationally operating specialty chemicals group ALTANA. With production facilities in Europe, North and South America and China, ACTEGA develops, produces and distributes specialty coatings, inks, adhesives and sealing compounds with a focus on the packaging industry. Following the motto "Packed with Expertise", ACTEGA does not only offer technically sophisticated product solutions, but also meets the high safety standards of the food, beverages, pharmaceutical and toy industries. Whether for flexible and metal packaging, folding cartons or labels, products by ACTEGA provide packaging with a high-quality appearance and innovative functionalities.