- Non-polar polyolefin can be combined with silicone elastomer
- Applications: from injection-molded valves to co-extruded tubing
Injection molded and co-extruded hard-soft-plastics combinations have long been considered as state of the art. The composite of a hard polypropylene and a soft thermoplastic elastomer has become reality in many components. However, a compromise at the expense of the long-term behavior and resilience of the soft component has often to be made. It would be a desirable alternative, if the soft element could be made of a silicone elastomer. But there are only a handful of polar thermoplastics that can be combined with silicone.
Non-polar polyolefin can be combined with silicone elastomer
With a research project, Raumedic has now succeeded in taking an important step forward: Thanks to a fundamental development, polyolefins as non-polar thermoplastics can be combined with a silicone elastomer, thus forming a novel adhesive bond.
Polyolefins as non-polar thermoplastics can be combined with a silicone elastomer to produce co-extruded tubings (source: Raumedic)
Applications: from injection-molded valves to co-extruded tubing
This opens up the way for sealing elements or valves to be directly injection-molded onto the surrounding polyolefin. Thus, medical components or pharmaceutical dosing are simplified and their product safety is improved. It is also possible to produce co-extruded tubing, whose silicone outer layer provides outstanding pumping characteristics and very good resilience. At the same time the PP inner layer with its distinct hydrophobia and low gas permeability shows almost no interaction with the flow-through medium.
Raumedic will first present the results of this research at the Compamed 2015. The company will show also other combinations of thermoplastics and silicone for injection molded and extruded medical components.
