Medical Device Link.

Originally Published EMDM October 2003

INDUSTRY NEWS

Canada’s National Research Council Industrial Materials Institute (NRC-IMI; Boucherville, QC, Canada) has launched an R&D initiative in partnership with 13 major companies. The list of partnering companies ranges from manufacturers of compounds and polymers to end-users. To be known as PNC-Tech, the initiative will be investing $300,000 a year in R&D that focuses on the development of polymer nanocomposites. 

Polymer nanocomposites are plastic materials mixed with small amounts of clay. They were given that name because the clay must be mixed into the plastic at the nanometric scale. More specifically, a few molecules of clay are sandwiched between minuscule layers of plastics. The resulting material features enhanced strength properties such as permeability resistance and heat stability. This new class of material can potentially improve the production and performance of various products, including medical devices.

The initial research period of PNC-Tech will cover issues such as the processing, behaviour, and performance of polymer nanocomposites. “The partners will decide on the topic and goals of the research program, and the institute will do the work,” says Blaise Labrecque, business officer for NRC-IMI. “Once the research is performed internally, the results must be kept confidential for two years, but the partners can use the information on a privileged basis for R&D.”

For more information, contact Blaise Labrecque at NCR-IMI, 75 de Mortagne Blvd., Boucherville, QC, Canada; phone: +1 450 6415299; fax: +1 450 6415105; e-mail: blaise.labrecque@cnrc-cnrc.gc.ca; Internet: www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca. 

Melody Lee

Copyright ©2003 European Medical Device Manufacturer