Arkema introduced Kynar Rx 752 polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) copolymer for use in minimally invasive medical catheters that are exposed to bodily fluids for less than 30 days. The Kynar Rx 752 fluoropolymer was specifically developed for medical catheter applications and is readily melt processed using standard extrusion or injection moulding equipment similar to those used to process PE, PVC or PP. This allows for continuous coextrusion of multilayer constructions used in advanced catheter shaft designs. Additionally, Kynar Rx copolymer tubes and moulded components can be welded together using radio frequency (RF), direct heat contact, and ultrasonic methods to create consolidated catheter components.
Kynar Rx 752 copolymer is USP Class VI compliant and exhibits good resistance to chemicals and temperatures. This allows medical device components made from the material to be chemical, autoclave or irradiation sterilised. The material offers a flexural modulus of 50,000psi (345MPa) and dynamic coefficient of friction of 0.54, according to ASTM test methods. The new medical grade copolymer can be coextruded into multilayer tubing, providing device companies with an alternative to manually assembled shafts with PTFE liners.
www.kynar.com
Medical catheter application (photo: Arkema)
