Recent trends in the healthcare industry require new innovations in polymer technology. Medalist Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPEs) combine the performance characteristics of thermoset rubber with the processing ease of a thermoplastic; therefore they are suitable alternatives to a wide variety of medical-grade materials used today, like flexible PVC, TPU, and silicone. For medical-grade tubing, Medalist TPEs are the premier choice due to their high degree of purity (low level of extractables), biocompatibility, and optimal balance of economics and performance. Medalist TPEs are good candidates for single and multi-lumen tubing used in catheters, IV, drug delivery, gas supply, and chest drainage.
Download the Medalist TPE Product Selector Guide for these materials, and obtain technical data; including physical and mechanical properties so you can choose the appropriate grade for your tubing application.
Why Use Medalist TPEs for Tubing?
Regulatory Compliance
Medalist MD-53200 Series for Clear Medical Tubing: PVC and TPU Alternatives
The Medalist MD-53200 Series, available from 65 to 93 Shore A, mirrors the clarity, haptics, and performance characteristics of PVC, while exhibiting enhanced gamma stability and flexibility over a wider temperature range. Medical tubing made from Medalist has excellent kink resistance and clamp resilience. In addition, with the MD-53200 Series, the aesthetics of the tubing can be easily manipulated during extrusion to appear crystal clear, translucent, or frosted.
The MD-53200 Series can also be used to replace TPU in clear tubing and also presents a number of key advantages over TPU. Medalist is non-hygroscopic, and unlike TPU, does not require pre-drying before extruding. Further, Medalist is available in a wider hardness range and exhibits less surface tackiness than TPU. Finally, Medalist has a lower density versus TPU, therefore results in more feet of tubing per pound of material.
Medalist MD-12300 Series for Translucent Medical Tubing: Silicone Alternatives
For translucent medical tubing, the Medalist MD-12300 Series offers a tremendous cost savings over silicone rubber. Medalist tubing exhibits similar characteristics to silicone tubing, however silicone can have absorption issues with certain proteins and anti-oxidants and is extremely permeable to gases. These concerns are eliminated when using Medalist medical TPEs. Also, since Medalist materials are thermoplastic and not thermoset like silicone, they are heat sealable and sterile weldable
For more information about Medalist TPEs for other medical applications, including injection molded parts, extruded film and blow molded bags, go to our Medalist product page.
