Wider range of elastomers for medical manufacturers

New elastomer compounds are meeting many different design, processing, and end use needs in the medical industry. The demand for better materials is more evident and urgent in the field of medical and pharmaceutical industry. Such demand has pushed plastics manufacturers to expand their research and development scope to turn out materials and machinery capable of meeting the complex needs of medical field. An innovative and far-ranging medicalelastomers program named Medalist?was launched by the Thermoplastic Elastomer Division of Teknor Apex Company. The program provides device manufacturers with a wealth o f new high - purity thermoplastic elastomer compounds along with a comprehensive body of tools and information for designers and processors. "The Medalist initiative is a leap forward in our capability for serving medical manufacturers," according to Andy Claytor, sales director. "While Teknor Apex has long supplied medical - grade compounds, the comprehensiveness of the Medalist range and the technical resources that accompany it will enable customers to use our program as a single source of elastomers for an array of applications and to eliminate guesswork in making material selections." The initial range of 33 Medalist compounds is already extensive, and is now being expanded. Shore A hardness spans an unusually broad range, from 5 to 87. Clear, translucent, and opaque formulations are available. The compounds fall into three series: Versatile Series (MD - 100), whose widely differing grades meet many requirements encountered in medical manufacturing; Resilient Series (MD-200), formulated for enhanced toughness, oilresistance, or heat-resistance; and Bondable Series (MD-300), for over-moulding onto a variety of thermoplastic substrates. All Medalist compounds have been tested for compliance with ISO 10993 - 5 cytotoxicity standards and are free of animal - derived materials, vinyl, phthalates, latex, and additives not directly required for medical applications. "Grades are available for every major process in medical manufacturing, from injection moulding to blow moulding to extrusion of thin film," said Lisa Charno, medical market manager for the Thermoplastic Elastomer Division of Teknor Apex. Meeting many medical requirements All Medalist elastomers provide the advantages of thermoplastics - outstanding processability, recyclability, colourability, and design freedom梬ith the elasticity and tensile strength of conventional rubber. The 17 grades in the Medalist Versatile Series (MD - 100) are all clear or translucent and include a 5 Shore A ultra - soft clear gel; tubing grades optimised for softness, kinkresistance, alcohol resistance, or high clarity; high - flow injection moulding elastomer for complex or thin - wall parts; compounds formulated for blow moulding and for broad processing latitude; materials free of oil plasticisers; and elastomers with high levels of hardness, elasticity, hot water resistance, dynamic wear resistance, resilience at high temperatures, and surface smoothness. The ten initial offerings in the Medalist Resilient Series (MD - 200) are opaque compounds ranging in Shore A hardness from an ultra - soft15 to a semirigid 80 and include grades optimised for oil resistance and toughness. One formulation is free of oil plasticiser. The grades under the Medalist Bondable Series (MD-300) are for over-moulding, including opaque, clear, and translucent formulations. Depending on the grade, substrates include ABS, copolyester, high-impact polystyrene, nylon, and polycarbonate. Advantages in manufacture The soft, 37 Shore A Medalist?has used in the O2-RESQ?System for providing immediate ventilation in cases of congestive heart failure and other respiratory distress includes a face mask with a soft, rounded elastomeric cushion that fits comfortablyAir Jordan VI 6 Shoes