New blow molded TPE targets latex, PVC medical applications

"We have a strong heritage in the medical device market and are continuously working to expand our product offering," says Niklas Ottosson, medical technical manager at Elasto. "Our goal is to engineer intelligent solutions which precisely match application requirements, but also to find solutions that meet gaps in the market. Our Mediprene BM compounds were developed in response to an increasing market interest for exploring possibilities with blow molded medical products in TPE".

The new TPE compounds, called Mediprene BM, are said to have high melt strength, giving time to close the mold around the extruded parison while allowing sufficient stretchability during inflation. According to Hexpol TPE, Mediprene BM TPE compounds offer good welding in the pinchoff area of the blow mold. Attributes are said to include easy coloring and smoothsurface.

One potential new application ar medial devices with thin walls requiring a soft-touch feel with high levels of flexibility and durability.

The new compounds are targeting replacement of latex in breathing bags.  Mediprene TPEs have been classified as non-sensitizers in skin sensitization tests and representative grades have passed cytotoxicity tests according to ISO 10993-5 and biocompatibility tests according to USP Class VI. Mediprene TPEs are sterilizable with gamma, EtO and steam and are resistant to many fluids used in the healthcare environment.

Hexpol TPE includes the ELASTO businesses in Sweden, UK and China and Müller Kunststoffe in Germany. Products are also marketed in North America.