Some Commonly used medical plastic materials
There are more than 90 kinds of polymer materials used in medical plastic products. With its excellent properties, reliable performance, and convenient molding process, plastics have been used more and more widely in the medical field. Plastic as a material for making medical supplies has great development prospects . Here are some commonly used categories.
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
PVC is a raw material often used in the production of medical plastic products, and its consumption accounts for more than 25% of medical plastics. The PVC has low cost, wide application range and easy processing, and has good chemical resistance, mechanical properties and electrical properties, but its light resistance and thermal stability are poor. By processing modified PVC plastic, it can be widely used to make blood storage bags, blood transfusion bags, blood catheters, artificial peritoneum, cardiac catheters and other products.
Polyethylene (PE)
Including LDPE, HDPE, UHMWPE, etc.
LDPE is low-density polyethylene. It is mainly used for blending with other plastics to produce medical packaging bags and intravenous injection containers, etc. It can also be made into high-temperature sterilization-resistant medical plastic bags.
HDPE is high-density polyethylene. It has good mechanical properties, such as artificial lung, artificial trachea, artificial larynx, artificial kidney, artificial urethra, artificial bone, orthopedic repair materials and disposable medical supplies, etc., and can be used as fillers to improve the flow properties of products.
UHMWPE is ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. It has extremely high chemical stability, abrasion resistance, corrosion resistance and biological inertness. It is a good material for manufacturing artificial lungs and joints.
Polypropylene (PP)
Medical PP should meet the requirements of high purity, no toxicity, no irritation, good chemical stability, no degradation, no inflammation, no allergic reaction, good biological compatibility, no carcinogenicity, no hemolysis and coagulation, etc., and can withstand the disinfection of ethylene oxide.
Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)
Polytetrafluoroethylene has high crystallinity, low friction coefficient, good heat resistance, and high chemical stability. This material is resistant to acids, alkalis, and various organic solvents, almost insoluble in all solvents. At the same time, PTFE has the characteristics of high temperature resistance, and its friction coefficient is very low, so it can be used for lubrication, and it has become an ideal coating for easy-to-clean woks and water pipes.
It has airtightness, high lubrication, non-stickiness, electrical insulation, good anti-aging ability, and excellent temperature resistance (it can work for a long time at a temperature of 250°C to -180°C). PTFE itself is not toxic to humans and has the best aging life among plastics. The one with the lowest coefficient of friction among solid materials is only 1/5 of that of polyethylene. It is the smallest surface tension among solid materials and does not adhere to any substances. It is physiologically inert and has no adverse effects when implanted in the body for a long time as an artificial blood vessel and organ. It can be used as a substitute for human body arteries, veins, and heart membranes; endoscopes, clamp catheters, trachea; other medical equipment such as tubes, bottles, filter cloths, etc. The radiation resistance of PTFE is poor, and it will degrade after being exposed to high-energy radiation.
Polyurethanes: Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU)
Thermoplastic polyurethane has good transparency, high strength and tear properties, chemical resistance and abrasion resistance; the resin also has a wide range of hardness, smoother surface, anti-fungal and microbial resistance, and high water resistance stability . These advantages make thermoplastic polyurethane can be used as medical tubing, oxygen mask, catheter, drug release equipment, etc.
Polycarbonate (PC)
The typical characteristics of polycarbonate are toughness, strength, rigidity, and heat-resistant steam sterilization. These characteristics make polycarbonate a preferred choice for blood dialysis filters, surgical tool handles, and oxygen tanks.
Polyphthalic acid (PET)
The excellent chemical and physical properties of PET also lie in its excellent adaptability to modification treatment. There are a variety of modified PET available to meet the different needs of the medical plastics market.
Others:
Medical plastics also include sulfones (Sulfones), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyimide, etc.
