MATERIALS | MEDICAL
Right: Constantia’s Perpetua Alta boasts a high barrier to protect
pharmaceuticals
The project, called Dotmask, looks at new coatings and plastics obtained from plant extracts that improve the performance of personal protective equipment (PPE). The initiative is coordinated by chemical company Lamberti. Partners include Aimplas, the Medical Research Institute of La Fe Hospital in Valencia, biotech company ADM Biopolis and mask manu- facturer Airnatech. The materials are being developed to reduce infection from pathogens – which are frequently transmitted by air. Viruses and bacteria can be particularly hazardous in hospital environments, where they can become resistant to drugs. Existing coatings typically use inorganic, metal-based additives. However, has some disadvantages, such as a tendency to corrode in some environments and the possible release of active ions – with potential toxic effect. Plant-based compounds could help to overcome these problems. Dotmask is developing materials based on bio-based phenolic compounds with strong antimicrobial activity for integration into PPE. The coatings will be applied to plastic sheet that is used to make protective face shields. Lamberti and ADM will analyse the antimicrobial capacity of the additives, Aimplas will develop new antimicrobial plastic materials and Airnatech will use the new additives for masks – which will be tested at La Fe Hospital in Valencia.
Medical sheets Eastman and Exolon have begun a collaboration to extrude solid sheet materials for medical use. Exolon’s Vivak Med solid sheets for rigid medical packaging are extruded using Eastman’s Eastar 6763 medical copolyester resin. The sheet is available in thicknesses from 0.6 to 8mm. “Eastar 6763 has been the standard for decades in rigid medical packaging applications,” said Michael Burkardt, business development manager for speciality plastics at Eastman. As well as meeting an increasing demand for thermoplastic solid sheet products, Vivak Med meets ISO 10993/USP Class VI biocompatibility requirements, says Exolon. Wim Van Eynde, head of product management at
Exolon Group, added: “The medical packaging industry will now have access to thicker and wider sheet material. Eastman medical-grade materials offer advantages such as reduced material usage and freedom from substances of concern compared to other materials like high- impact polystyrene.” Last year, at K2022, Exolon presented its entire
30 FILM & SHEET EXTRUSION | January/February 2023
medical range – Exolon Med, Vivak Med and Inspria Med.
All products consist of 100% virgin material, meeting the requirements of ISO 10993 for the bio- logical evaluation of medical devices. Sheets are produced in accordance with good manufacturing practices (GMP). These are used to make a wide range of medical
products, including dental splints, rigid medical packaging, containers and trays for medical devices, said Exolon.
Elastomer film Gel-Pak showcased its custom silicone, TPU, and TPE film extrusion and coating capabilities – along with biocompatible carriers for the medical device industry – at the recent MD&M West show in California, USA. The company manufactures customised elasto- mer films for medical and electronics applications. The engineered films are made in a cleanroom environment and offer optical clarity, chemical resistance, low hysteresis, and tight process control, says Gel-Pak. Gel-Pack also supplies biocompatible trays, slides and films that hold medical components in place during transport, processing, and storage. An example is its new BTXF Jedec tray: a micro-tex- tured film is laminated to the bottom of a flat tray, which immobilises medical devices using non- adhesive holding forces – yet allowing easy remov- al. The product is ideal as a handling medium during manufacturing processes or shipping, says the company. The products are manufactured in an ISO-certified, class 10,000 cleanroom.
Acrylic grades Roehm added two new medical products to its Cyrolite portfolio at the recent MD&M West show. Cyrolite acrylic-based copolymer compounds provide a superior balance of properties that helps
www.filmandsheet.com
IMAGE: CONSTANTIA FLEXIBLES
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