In recent years, foreign countries and regions TPE product market is mature, stable growth in demand at home and abroad to develop new varieties mainly in terms of metallocene alloy, transparent, non-toxic products for medical use. Under this analysis for everyone TPE in medical applications as well as the characteristics of what material applications.
A, styrenic TPE
1. What is the styrenic TPE? As the name suggests, the main types referred to as styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer (styrene-based TPES), a thermoplastic elastomer, a styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer (or styrene block copolymer) is the most widely used, because they can mixed with many materials, such as fillers, extenders, modifiers and other resins. This hybrid is available upon request for special applications, strict control to change a variety of properties such as viscosity, rigidity, softening temperature of the adhesive and cohesive strength of the material. Therefore styrenic TPES has a very wide range of applications. On the contrary, a styrene block copolymer rarely applied in pure form.
2. styrenic TPE is characterized by good elasticity, elongation at break, permanent deformation, high transparency, good thermal stability, can be steam and ethylene oxide and ultraviolet disinfection, itself non-toxic, easy processing characteristics; known as the fourth generation of rubber.
3. styrenic TPE applications: a one-time infusion tube, blood bags, baby pacifiers, dropper, seals and medical catheters.
Second, the polyurethane-based TPE
1. What is the polyurethane TPE? As the name suggests, urethane based TPE by urethane hard segments and polyesters or polyether soft segment and a block isocyanate-reactive thermoplastic urethane rubber bonded to each other, referred to as TPU, TPU has excellent mechanical strength, abrasion resistance, oil resistance and flex resistance, wear resistance, especially the most prominent. The disadvantage is that the heat resistance, hot water resistance, poor compression resistance, easy to turn yellow appearance, easy to stick mold processing. Currently in Europe and other countries is mainly used in the manufacture of ski boots, hiking boots and other sporting goods, and a lot for the production of all kinds of sports shoes, sneakers, consumption of many. TPU also produce automobiles, machinery and watches and other parts by injection molding and extrusion molding methods, and used extensively for high-pressure hose (rubber outside), pure hose, sheets, belts, conveyor belts, wire and cable, tape and other products. Which accounted for more than 40% of injection molding, extrusion molding is about 35%.
2. The polyurethane-based TPE applications: artificial heart assist device, artificial blood vessels, precision interventional catheter (catheter tube, central venous catheters, peripherally inserted central venous catheters, electrophysiology catheters, angiographic catheters, balloon dilatation catheters, micro catheters, etc.), tracheal tube, artificial limbs, dentures, hygiene supplies, extracorporeal blood tubing, connecting lines and interventional medical supplies coating material.
3. The polyurethane-based TPE is characterized by a good extensibility and flex resistance, high strength, wear resistance, biocompatibility, and no cause distortion, no allergic reactions, blood compatibility, antithrombotic good performance, and does not damage the blood components, while the polyurethane material has excellent mechanical properties and processing properties, it is widely used in the medical field.