Product Releases

Hydrophilic Pebax Med Polymer Grade

Wed, 02/20/2013 - 11:48am
MDT Staff

Arkema launched its new hydrophilic Pebax MV1074 SA 01 MED polymer for medical applications at MD&M West show in Anaheim, CA. Hydrophilic Pebax MV1074 SA 01 MED polymer is suitable for use in minimally invasive devices that are exposed to bodily fluids for less than 30 days, such as surgical tubing. Pebax MV1074 SA 01 MED polyether block amide copolymer is USP VI certified and offers excellent high moisture absorption properties for device components in wet environments, such as catheters.

Most polymers used in minimally invasive surgical devices are hydrophobic and create friction against moist bodily tissue. Hydrophilic coatings are often applied to these polymer components to reduce friction and avoid tissue trauma, yet they add additional manufacturing steps and may provide more lubricity than necessary. Hydrophilic Pebax MV 1074 SA 01 MED polymer absorbs up to 48% of moisture from the surrounding environment and forms hydrogen bonds that create a wet film on the component surface that enhance lubricity against bodily tissue. Comparatively, in the same conditions Pebax SA 01 MED copolymers commonly used for medical devices absorb only 1.2% moisture.

Pebax MV 1074 SA 01 MED is a flexible thermoplastic elastomer with a 40 Shore D hardness and 80 MPa (11,600 psi) flexural modulus. Ease of processing and melt compatibility with traditional polyether block amide and polymers offer excellent opportunities in co-extrusion applications. Pebax MV 1074 SA 01 MED polymer can be extruded as a hydrophilic polymer layer in a multi-layer tube or film extrusion for surfaces directly in contact with bodily tissue that require high moisture absorption.

This new medical grade hydrophilic Pebax MV 1074 SA 01 MED polymer offers an exceptional option for medical devices in contact with wet tissue. It has a natural affinity to moisture and high absorption rate that is truly unique compared to hydrophobic polymers that are common in medical devices

For more information, visit www.arkema.com/en/.


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