Plastic fittings in the medical industry

Plastic fittings have a wide range of applications in the medical industry. Plastic rubber has long been one of the important raw materials for medical devices and pharmaceutical packaging. With the booming development of the industry, a variety of high-performance plastics and technologies applied to medical devices continue to emerge. In addition to the traditional medical plastics, such as PP, PVC, PE, silicone rubber and other commonly used in the medical device industry, some high-performance materials such as polyether ether ketone (PEEK), biocompatible polycarbonate (PC), thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) and so on are to promote the development of the medical device industry are important materials.

SUN-YEE TECH introduces you to the characteristics and applications of plastic fittings commonly used medical plastics.

Medical Plastic fittings Characteristics and Applications

1. PEEK (Polyetheretherketone)

PEEK is extremely resistant to corrosion, hydrolysis and chemicals. Especially inert to body fluids, it can be applied to a number of implantable medical appliances that alleviate the pain of patients. Such as gastrointestinal stents and implantable body fluid pumps to eliminate the pain caused to patients by traditional puncture surgery. And medical grade polycarbonate meets the advantages of biocompatibility, strong corrosion resistance and non-breakable, which is the preferred choice of capsule endoscopy shell material.

2. PE (Polyethylene)

UHDPE has high impact strength, low friction, stress crack resistance and good energy absorption properties. Making it an ideal material for artificial hip, knee and shoulder connectors.

3. PP (Polypropylene)

Medical PP has high transparency, good barrier properties and radiation resistance. It has a wide range of applications in the medical equipment and packaging industry. PP-based Non-PVC materials are alternatives to the widely used PVC materials.

4. Polystyrene (PS) and K resins

These two materials are mainly in pharmaceutical packaging supplies.

PS is the third largest plastic species after PVC and polyethylene. It is usually as a single-component plastic. Its main features are light weight, transparency, easy dyeing, and good molding and processing performance.

K resin is made from the copolymerization of styrene and butadiene. It is an amorphous polymer, transparent, odorless and non-toxic. The density is about 1.01g/cm3 (lower than that of PS and AS). Impact resistance is higher than PS. Transparency (80-90%) is good. The heat distortion temperature is 77°C. The hardness of K material varies according to the amount of butadiene contained in the material. Due to the good fluidity of K material, processing temperature range is wide, so its processing performance is good.

5. ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Copolymer)

ABS has certain rigidity, hardness, impact and chemical resistance. Resistance to radiation and ethylene oxide sterilization.ABS is mainly in medicine as surgical tools, roller clips, plastic needles, tool boxes, diagnostic devices, and hearing aid housings, especially the housings for some of the larger medical devices.

6, polycarbonate (PC)

Typical properties of PC are toughness, strength, rigidity and resistance to heat steam sterilization. These characteristics make PC a prefect choice for hemodialysis filters, surgical tool handles and oxygen tanks. medical applications for PC also include needleless injection systems, perfusion instruments, blood centrifuge bowls and pistons. Due to its high transparency, PC is also used in myopia glasses.

7、PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene)

PTFE has excellent properties. The coefficient of friction is the lowest among plastics, and it has good biocompatibility. It can be made into artificial blood vessels and other devices directly implanted into the human body.