Selection Of Medical Grade Plastics

1.  What is medical plastic?
   Medical grade plastics are a special type of polymer used in healthcare. These materials are designed to meet the needs strictly for medical use. For example, it is safe for the body, capable of disinfection, function, performance and durability. Medical plastics shall not cause adverse reactions (toxicity, irritation or other...) when in contact with the human body. . They must also be repeatedly disinfected by heat, chemicals or radiation.
    

2.  Major polymers for medical applications.

• Polyethylene (PE)：Polyethylene is the most commonly used plastic in medical devices. Its inertia, flexibility, toughness, affordability and ease of processing make it ideal for :
  • fluid handling systems, blood and IV infusion bags, catheters and syringes
  • tubes, laboratory equipment, surgical trays, etc
•  Polypropylene (PP)：Polypropylene is appreciated for its high temperature resistance, low density, chemical resistance, and economic cost. It is ideal for :
  • Syringes, shells, vials, test tubes and medical packaging
  • Urine bags, filters and autoclave trays
  • Surgical masks and gowns
  Due to the high tensile strength of polypropylene, it is also used as sutures. 
•  Polyvinyl chloride (PVC):PVC is intrinsically transparent, rigid, and can be easily sterilized. It is the material of choice for :
  • Liquid containers, blood bags and pipes
  • Oxygen masks
  • Dialysis equipment 
  Plasticizers are added to flexible PVC for gloves and catheters.
•  Polystyrene (PS): Polystyrene is transparent, resistant to chemicals, and cheap. It is often used in the manufacture of :
  • Culture dishes and vials
  • Diagnostic instrument casings
  • Tissue culture trays
  • Protective packaging
  High impact polystyrene (HIPS) provides greater toughness for surgical instrument trays, vomit basins, etc
• Polycarbonate (PC): Polycarbonate combines optical clarity, dimensional stability, high impact resistance and inherent sterilization. It is widely used in :
  • Dialysers and incubators
  • Surgical tools
  • Orthodontic appliances and lenses
  It is also used in transparent medical device enclosures that must withstand frequent high temperature sterilization
• PMMA:  Polymethyl methacrylate, also known as acrylic acid, provides clarity, UV resistance and weather resistance at a low cost. It is used in :
  • anaesthetic masks, incubators and observation Windows
  • Transparent medical instruments and lenses
  • Dentures and orthopaedic implants
  PMMA is also popular in bone cement
• Polyacrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS):ABS is an economical, rigid thermoplastic with good dimensional stability. It is resistant to chemical corrosion and easier to process than PC. ABS is used for :
  • Medical enclosures, handles and accessories
  • Instrument panels
  • Structural components
  It can be sterilized by radiation, chemicals and medium heat.
   

 3.  Compared with glass and metal materials, the main characteristics of plastics are:

• Low cost, can be reused without disinfection, suitable for use as a disposable medical device production raw materials.
• The processing is simple, and its plasticity can be processed into a variety of useful structures, while metal and glass are difficult to manufacture products with complex structures.
• Tough, elastic, not as fragile as glass,
• It has good chemical inertness and biological safety.
   

The medical industry requires special polymer grades that meet the standards of the healthcare system. The global market demand for these plastics is expected to increase in the coming years. Medical-grade plastics play a huge role in healthcare - from life-saving devices to simple medicine bottles. Therefore, these materials have some desirable properties, such as biocompatibility, non-permeability, resistance to sterilization, lightweight, durability, etc.

 

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