Originally Published EMDM January/February 2003
INDUSTRY NEWS
Multicomponent System Balances Cure Speed and Shelf Life |
| A multicomponent cure system for GE Silicone's TUFEL II line of elastomers optimizes the extrusion of thick-wall tubing. |
A multicomponent cure system for the TUFEL II line of translucent, addition-cure elastomers from GE Silicones (Waterford, NY, USA) provides customers with a high degree of flexibility. The two-part system, which consists of master batches of the new IN-7 inhibitor and CA-7 platinum catalyst, allows users to balance product cure speed and shelf life.
"Fabricators can vary the ratio of CA-7 catalyst to IN-7 inhibitor, within recommended limits, to optimize their cure speed," says Eric Bishop, GE Silicones healthcare industry manager. "Adding more CA-7 will accelerate the cure and allow for increased extrusion line speed. Adding more IN-7 will slow the cure and extend the mixed shelf life of the blended compound. As a result, fabricators have more flexibility than with our CA-6 one-component cure system," he adds. With such latitude, customers can meet specific equipment requirements and optimize the production of complex extrusion profile configurations.
The greatest benefits of the multicomponent cure system, according to Bishop, are realized in silicone tubing applications—especially those that require thick-wall tubing, such as the high-pressure transfer of materials via pumps and in ophthalmic usages. "In addition to the cost savings generated by the potential productivity gains, many customers have reported an improvement in the porosity of thick-wall tubing," says Bishop.
Both IN-7 inhibitor and CA-7 catalyst master batches are supplied in 7-lb quantities, sufficient to mix with 1000 lb of TUFEL II base silicone elastomer. Specific formulations are provided in a product data sheet available online at www.health care-silicones.com. Combining IN-7 and CA-7 with any of the five TUFEL II bases maintains the original FDA and USP Class VI compliance status of these high-tear-strength, fast-cure, low-volatility elastomer bases, if used in accordance with information on the product data sheet.
For more information, contact GE Silicones, 260 Hudson River Rd., Waterford, NY 12188, USA; phone: +1 518 2373330; fax: +1 518 2332308; Internet: www.healthcare-silicones.com.
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