Company insight The rise of a new polymer
More and more the medical sector is seeing plastic and polymer technologies reveal themselves as worthwhile substitutes for metal, lessening cost and providing design flexibility. This being said, quality is still vital. Global advanced materials leader Arkema has just launched a new bio-based, recyclable medical polymer poised to re-define the surgical tools market.
Table 1: Chemical resistance Bleach
Rilsan MED GF PA11
the medical market an advanced polymer that meets all the mechanical, thermal and chemical requirements traditional metal surgical tools demand. In addition to this, medical device manufacturers can lower their carbon footprint by switching from a metal device to one made with Arkema’s Rilsan MED GF Polyamide 11. Some other attributes include:
W +++ H2O2 +++ IPA +++ Phenol +++ QAC +++ Ether +++ Detergent DMSO +++ +++
+++ Resistant - No or little change in weight or dimension, no change; ++ Limited resistance - Change in weight or dimensions after long periods, possibly irreversible changes of properties; + Not resistant, may still sometimes be used under specific conditions; 0 Soluble or attacked after brief contact
ith its new glass-fibre reinforced Rilsan MED GF Polyamide 11, Arkema offers
Sustainable raw materials for a sustainable polymer Arkema’s advanced bio-circular materials have a long-proven legacy in some of the world’s most demanding applications. These bio-based, recyclable polymers are derived from Arkema’s flagship amino-11 chemistry, which in turn, is derived from the oil of the renewable castor bean. Consequently, the Polyamide 11 used to produce this material comprises more than 98% bio-based carbon, according to
“Arkema’s advanced bio-circular materials have a long-proven legacy in some of the world’s most demanding applications.”
■biocompatible, USP Class VI and ISO 10993 approved
■super-high stiffness for replacing metal ■significantly lighter than similar stainless tools
■repeatedly sterilisable via autoclave, Gamma and EtO
■strong resistance to most chemical agents used in bioprocessing
■bio-based from castor beans ■100% recyclable via Arkema’s Virtucycle programme
■high-quality surface finishes
ASTM 6866 (full life cycle assessment available on demand).
Castor beans mainly originate in India where they can benefit from the natural monsoon phenomenon. They do not compete directly with the food chain. Castor beans are grown only in the poorest soils and they do not cause deforestation, all while remaining profitable for the farmers. To strengthen its commitment to more sustainable castor farming, Arkema has launched the PRAGATI initiative with its
partners, designed to support the Indian farmers to improve their agricultural practices, water management and to enable better health and safety while respecting human rights
Best in class performances for metal replacement
Formulated with a high content of glass fibres, this new Rilsan MED GF PA 11 displays a tensile modulus of 19 GPa and a flexural modulus of 18.5 GPa, making it a perfect fit to replace metal for the production of highly demanding surgical tools. Compared to other reinforced high-performance polymers used for the manufacture of surgical tools, Rilsan MED GF PA 11 requires lower mould temperatures and injection pressures. These properties enabled early adopters to switch materials extremely easily and to decrease their cycle times significantly while maintaining component integrity.
Furthermore, this new Rilsan MED GF PA 11 exhibits excellent chemical resistance: Results in table 1 demonstrate the qualitative performance of chemical resistance based on surface aspect (the appearance of cracks) and
A diagram showing the stages taken from harvesting the sustainable castor plant to manufacturing Arkema’s medical devices. 128 Medical Device Developments /
www.nsmedicaldevices.com
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