Originally Published MDDI November 2002
BULLETIN BOARD
Company announces launch of new heat-shrink tubing line. Extremely thin-walled polyolefin heat-shrink tubing has been introduced by Cobalt Polymers (Cloverdale, CA; 800/337-0901). The highly flexible, strong tubing was developed specifically for medical device applications. It is available in diameters ranging from 0.010 to 0.360 in. 13 sizes are offered with wall thicknesses from 0.001 to 0.005 in. and shrink ratios of 2:1 and 4:1. The tubing recovers its specified dimensions when exposed to 290°F heat delivered via a heat gun, hot box, or oven. Made from USP Class VI polyolefin, the tubing is available in a variety of stock sizes and in straight lengths of 60 in. and 12 in. Continuous lengths or cut pieces can also be specified.
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Vacuum compression press performs PTFE lamination. A manufacturer of laminating presses and molding systems for the plastic and rubber industries has recently introduced a press for laminating polytetrafluoroethylene. The press is manufactured by Technical Machine Products (Cleveland; 216/281-9500) and is designed to laminate fluoropolymers at temperatures up to 735°F. The Edge II advanced control system aids the user in attaining precise temperature control, and, according to the company, results in maximum speed and uniformity of heating and cooling. The press is available in sizes of up to 2100 tn, with five or more openings and with work areas measuring up to 59 x 89 in. The machine's heavy-duty construction helps minimize deflection. All models feature high-speed hydraulics, a vacuum pump system, and easy-to-use computer-based controls.Economical grade PBT can replace PET in select spunbond applications. According to the manufacturer, a spunbond polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) produces fabrics that shrink less during processing and are softer and more flexible than those made with traditional polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polymers. Ticona (Summit, NJ; 908/598-4199) reports that its new PBT grade, Celanex 2000-K, also produces finer denier fibers than PET. In pilot trials, measurements of around 2.0 deniers per filament were obtained from the PBT. When Celanex 2000-K is blended with PET, it reduces the stiffness of PET spunbond fabrics. Celanex 2000-K has a melt processing temperature of 260° to 280°C. It also crystallizes more readily and rapidly than PET, which, according to Ticona, allows it to be run on high-volume polypropylene-spunbond machines. The company can also modify the viscosity of its PBT polymers for bicomponent processing.
Catheters may benefit from company's surface coating. The Swedish company Carmeda Inc. (San Antonio, TX; 210/692-9908) reports that central venous catheters benefit from an application of Carmeda's proprietary heparin coating. The company cites a recently published paper that describes the results of a study for which Carmeda's BioActive Surface was applied to catheters. The study was designed to compare coated polyurethane catheters to uncoated ones. After 30 days, according to Carmeda, nine of nine coated catheters were patent, i.e., open for infusion and aspiration, while two of eight uncoated catheters were similarly patent. The company adds that, although not statistically significant, the researchers observed three positive blood cultures in the uncoated catheter group. None was observed in the coated catheter group. The study also reports pathological findings comprising "inflammatory activity" that was "more extensive and generally more involved in the specimens from rats with uncoated catheters." The paper, titled "Effect of Covalently Bound Heparin Coating on Patency and Biocompatibility of Long-Term Indwelling Catheters in the Rat Jugular Vein," was published in the June 2002 issue of Comparative Medicine.
Silicone-products supplier expands its facilities. Vesta Inc. (Franklin, WI; 414/423-0550) has increased its molding capacity as part of a total expansion of its manufacturing facility in Franklin. The expansion provides Vesta with more space for a greater number of injection molding machines and secondary operations, while facilitating significant improvement in material flow. The added molding capacity is part of a 30,000-sq-ft expansion. Vesta's services include liquid-injection molding, transfer molding, and insert molding.
Self-lubricating silicone rubber developed for healthcare applications. A provider of silicone materials has introduced a new family of self-lubricating liquid silicone rubber. Users of the material will see a silicone fluid appear on the surface of the cured elastomer; this self-lubricating technology is designed, in part, to prevent vulcanized silicone surfaces from sticking to each other. The material manufactured by NuSil Technology (Carpinteria, CA; 805/684-8780), is available in variable lubricant concentrations, with Shore-A durometers ranging from 15 to 60. Potential applications include septums, stoppers, o-rings, gaskets, valves, and seals.
Adhesives guide published for engineers. Permabond (Bridgewater, NJ; 800/653-6523) has published a pamphlet describing and illustrating high-performance structural bonding adhesives, including epoxies and acrylics. The guide includes a comprehensive table listing product names, descriptions, product features, and product benefits. The company also offers engineers answers to frequently asked adhesive-related questions, such as the definitions of such terms as "handling strength" and "cure schedule," among others. The Permabond structural bonding adhesive guide can be found on the company's web site.
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