The prognosis looks good for cast polyurethane in medical device manufacturing. With emerging medical product technology, the material’s versatile properties have a chance to shine.
Surgical drapes, wound dressing, catheter/general tubing and a variety of other injection molded devices are all made of polyurethane materials. Currently, the most common use for polyurethane is in short-term implants, which can remain in the body for 30 days or more.
The multifaceted properties of polyurethane make it a favorite among seasoned engineers and designers. The high stress/strain properties and longevity of polyurethane are particularly beneficial to medical products. Plus, polyurethane can be formulated to be harder than a golf ball and softer than a rubber eraser. Conventional rubbers can’t match this range of hardness. Perhaps best of all, polyurethane is extremely cost-effective to manufacture.
Unfortunately, these benefits are often overlooked in many manufacturers’ material selection process. However, as more medical device designers and manufacturers are discovering PUR, the material is gaining in popularity because it outperforms metals, rubbers and plastics in valuable ways. In today’s economy, value speaks volumes, so look for polyurethane to surface as a leading material in medical product manufacturing.
Polyurethane’s Great Potential in Medical Products
Posted by
pmablogger
Monday, September 28, 2009
0 comments:
Post a Comment