Is it possible to connect non-polar thermoplastics and silicones permanently? Yes, it is!

April 6, 2016

Helmbrechts, Germany – RAUMEDIC presents novel adhesive bond of thermoplastic and silicone at Medtec 2016

Injection molded and co-extruded hard-soft-plastics combinations have long been considered as state of the art. The composite of a hard polypropylene and a soft thermoplastic elastomer has become reality in many components. However, a compromise at the expense of the long-term behavior and resilience of the soft component has to be made more than often. It would be a desirable alternative, if the soft element could be made of a silicone elastomer – but there are only a handful of polar thermoplastics that can be combined with silicone.

With a research project, RAUMEDIC has now succeeded in taking an important step forward: Thanks to a fundamental innovation, polyolefins as non-polar thermoplastics can be combined with a silicone elastomer, thus forming a novel adhesive bond.

This opens up the way for sealing elements or valves to be directly injection-molded onto the surrounding polyolefin. Thus, medical components or pharmaceutical dosing are simplified and their product safety is improved. It is also possible to produce co-extruded tubing, whose silicone outer layer provides outstanding pumping characteristics and excellent resilience. At the same time the PP inner layer with its distinct hydrophobia and low gas permeability shows almost no interaction with the flow-through medium. Depending on application and specification, RAUMEDIC can provide variable layer distribution. Together with the customer the development partner and system supplier realizes individual products.

RAUMEDIC will present the results of this research at the Medtec Europe 2016 in Hall 5, Booth 5G66. Moreover, the polymer specialist will show other interesting combinations of thermoplastics and silicone for injection molded and extruded medical components.

About RAUMEDIC:

RAUMEDIC AG is a development partner and manufacturer of tubing, molded parts, catheters and components for the medical and pharmaceutical industry. The company processes medical-grade thermoplastic polymers and silicones at a total of four production sites in Germany and in the USA. Furthermore, the medical engineering company develops and produces high-precision pressure measurement systems with microchip technology for the indication areas of neuromonitoring, urology and traumatology.

With 60 years of experience in the fields of extrusion, injection molding and assembly, as well as the commitment of currently 680 employees worldwide, RAUMEDIC is optimally equipped to transform the ideas of its customers into well-engineered product solutions. Customer satisfaction and compliance with all relevant statutory and official requirements are the focus of RAUMEDIC’s conception of quality. The basis of this is a quality management system according to ISO 13485 and 108,000 f² (10,000 m²) of clean room production according to ISO 14644 (class 7).

You can find more information at: www.raumedic.com



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