Originally Published EMDM January 2006
Industry News
Project Supports Polymer-Based Materials Research
Brian Buntz
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A research project has been launched to investigate medical-grade polymers that would benefit from gas-or fluid-assisted processing. |
A consortium seeks to advance supercritical fluid-processing technology for biodegradable polymer devices. Led by Rapra Technology (Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK), the project intends to develop polymers that benefit from gas- or fluid-assisted processing at low temperatures.
The research project, known as PROTEC, will examine polymers suitable for medical devices that would likely benefit from gas- or fluid-assisted processing. The injection of supercritical carbon dioxide into a polymer can lead to improved material stability, flow properties, and processing economics. General product types that could benefit from this technology include biodegradable-plastic screws and rods for pinning and repairing ligaments, devices for internal drug deposition, orthopaedic mouldings, wound sutures and staples, cardiovascular and intestinal supports, polymer tissues, and sponges and mouldings.
The team of research partners from the consortium includes Arena ZME Ltd. (Hucknall, Notts, UK), Trexel GmbH (Düsseldorf, Germany), and SE Carburos Metalicos S.A. (Barcelona, Spain). Three universities are also participating: the University of Birmingham in the UK; the Technical University of Lodz, Poland; and the University of Twente, in the Netherlands.
For more information, contact Rapra Technology, Shawbury, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY4 4NR, UK; phone: +44 1939 250383; fax: +44 1939 251118; e-mail: info@rapra.net; Internet: www.rapra.net.
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