Solvay develops new PEEK grades for medical implantable products

Materials supplier Solvay (Brussels) has announced that it will unveil two new lubricated grades of biocompatible Zeniva polyetheretherketone (PEEK) polymer for use in implantable medical devices next week. The new Zeniva ZA-500L and ZA-600L PEEK each offer melt indexes specifically tailored for injection molding, enabling broader design latitudes for customers developing next-generation implantable devices. The polymer grades will be introduced at AAOS 2017, an annual event sponsored by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons held this year in San Diego, CA.

“Zeniva PEEK continues to drive innovation in long-term implantable devices, including more complex and integrated designs,” said Dane Waund, Global Marketing Manager for Healthcare at Solvay’s Specialty Polymers business unit. “With the introduction of these two lubricated grades of Zeniva PEEK, our customers can better leverage the benefits of injection molding over conventional machining processes, and introduce differentiated and higher-performing new concepts more quickly to the fast-growing implantable device market.” 

The material offers numerous benefits compared with implantable metals, according to Solvay, including a modulus of elasticity similar to that of cortical bone, which minimizes reduction in bone density by maintaining normal stress on surrounding bone tissue. Zeniva PEEK also eliminates the risk of allergic reactions to heavy metals, and its radiolucent properties will not interfere with X-ray and computed tomography scanning procedures, added Solvay. 

“The orthopedic industry has challenged its supply partners to deliver biocompatible polymers that enable more innovative implantable device designs,” commented Jim Hicks, Technical Development Engineer for Healthcare at Solvay’s Specialty Polymers global business unit. “These new additions to our Zeniva PEEK portfolio offer new possibilities for designing and molding unique, new implants that incorporate smaller, thinner and lighter components, and to deliver them consistently within a validated medical production process compatible with long term implant applications.” 

Zeniva PEEK is part of Solvay’s Solviva family of biomaterials, which also includes three other distinct polymer chemistries to offer a broad range of options for implantable devices used in orthopedics, cardiovascular, spine and other applications. All Solviva biomaterials withstand most forms of sterilization, and demonstrate no evidence of cytotoxicity, sensitization, intracutaneous reactivity or acute systemic toxicity, based on biocompatibility testing as defined by ISO 10993:1. The products are available in grades for injection molding or extrusion, as well as stock shapes for machined components.