MATERIALS | MEDICAL


Above: Protective equipment is an important medical market for Eurotec’s materials


The design freedom available with injection mouldable COC enables lightweight wearable drug delivery solutions and portable diagnostic devices, for example. In packaging products, TOPAS COC can be


used to raise the performance of commodity polyolefins, enabling the development of simpler, better recyclable and sustainable solutions. Mono-material structures based on PE enhanced with TOPAS COC are more easily recyclable than multi-material solutions using layers of PET or other PE-incompatible polymers. TOPAS COC has been certified as a recyclable polyolefin as part of the EU initiative for a circular economy. Polyplastics is also constructing a new TOPAS


COC production facility in Leuna, Germany to meet growing global demand. The new plant, to be operated by local Polyplastics subsidiary TOPAS Advanced Polymers, will have a capacity of 20,000 tonnes per year, more than doubling the compa- ny’s current output. The facility will be operational by mid-2023. In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic,


Eurotec highlights the importance of its materials in medical applications such as respirators and ventilators, medical device parts, masks and goggles, and hospital bed equipment. Healthcare masks are being manufactured using Tecomid PA6 grades NB40 NL E (unfilled), Tecomid NB40 GR10 NL (10% glass fibre reinforced) and Tecomid NB40 GR30 NL (30% glass fibre reinforced). Tecotek BC40 UF85 WH060 AS is a PC/ABS material that prevents static build-up when used in ventilators. Eurotec says: “It is very important to ensure an


effective hygiene of the supplies used in the medical industry, since hygiene plays a major role in the fight against pandemic. For this, various cleaning procedures can be fulfilled by sterilisation with autoclave under high temperature and pressure, sterilisation with gamma rays, and


20 INJECTION WORLD | January/February 2021


heavy cleaning chemicals. The product lines Tecotek EU, EP and ES (PSU, PPSU and PESU), Tecotron XS (PPS) and Tecopeek PK (PEEK), included in the high-performance product line, provide high durability for these demanding applications thanks to their high sterilising and chemically resistant nature.” Sterilisation of medical equipment is a clear priority during the pandemic and Eurotec points to the increased use of Ultraviolet C rays, which are effective for killing micro-organisms with a wave- length ranging from 200 nm to 280 nm, such as viruses, moulds, bacteria and fungi. It says: “When exposed to ultraviolet light, thermoplastic materials have changed appearance and structure. There- fore, the material may have breaks, fractures, colour change or discoloration. Especially, UV-C rays contain higher energy as they have shorter wavelengths than UV-A and UV-B rays that reach the world, so they can cause damage to the material more rapidly.” The group has developed UV-C masterbatch


products which it has tested on PP materials. “Our masterbatches were tested by exposure to a total of 5,000 W/m2


UV-C light for PP products contain-


ing 20% talc and found to comply with the me- chanical performance requirements of IEC 60335. The formulas with UV-C masterbatch additives have better protected the colour of the material than the products without UV-C masterbatches. Our tests on different materials are in progress.” During the pandemic, Eurotec has also devel- oped the Mastertec MQ additive masterbatch for surgical masks. It says masks are treated by electrical charging to achieve a good filtration, thus allowing filtration effectiveness to reach over 99%. Mastertec MQ enhances the effect of this electrical charge.


Medical is one of the major application seg- ments for US elastomers producer United Soft Plastics. “Medical programmes typically have a longer development cycle due to more exhaustive testing at different stages of manufacturing – raw material, finished compound, part and assembly,” says Peter Huddleston, Product Engineer. “While all this testing is certainly needed, it makes the hit rate of new medical projects lower due to the higher


Left: An oral mouthpiece for


aiding in dental cleaning and surgery made with


material from United Soft Plastics www.injectionworld.com


IMAGE: UNITED SOFT PLASTICS


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