Elasto Launches Medical TPE Compounds for Blow Moulding Applications

Blow moulding is a manufacturing process that is used to produce hollow parts such as bottles, balloons and bags. The process begins with melting the TPE and forming it into a tube, called a parison. The parison is clamped into a divided mould, the tube is pinched at one end, welding it together and then air is blown into it. The air pressure inflates the TPE out to match the mould cavity. Once the TPE has cooled and hardened the mould opens and the part is ejected.

The new TPE compounds, called Mediprene BM, have high melt strength, giving time to close the mould around the extruded parison while allowing sufficient stretchability during inflation. Mediprene BM TPE compounds offer good welding in the pinchoff area of the blow mould. They can easily be coloured and give a smooth surface to the finished part. The TPE can be blow moulded into products with thin walls requiring a soft-touch feel with high levels of flexibility and durability.

Mediprene BM TPE compounds can be used as an alternative to latex dipping in breathing bags. The materials are PVC and latex free, which reduces the risk of allergic reactions; Mediprene TPEs have been classified as non-sensitisers in skin sensitisation tests and representative grades have passed cytotoxicity tests according to ISO 10993-5 [Part 5: Tests for in vitro cytotoxicity] and biocompatibility tests according to USP Class VI. Mediprene TPEs are sterilisable with gamma, EtO and steam and are resistant to many fluids used in the healthcare environment.

Niklas Ottosson, medical technical manager at Elasto explained, “We have a strong heritage in the medical device market and are continuously working to expand our product offering. Our goal is to engineer intelligent solutions which precisely match application requirements, but also to find solutions that meet gaps in the market. Our Mediprene BM compounds were developed in response to an increasing market interest for exploring possibilities with blow moulded medical products in TPE”.

Elasto Sweden will be launching their Mediprene TPE blow moulding compounds at the CompaMed exhibition, 20 – 22 November, Dusseldorf 8A : R14.