Why are we still using plastic?
MPN editor Laura Hughes spoke to Christian Herrild, director of growth strategies for manufacturer Teel Plastics, to discuss the main challenges and considerations associated with developing new plastic materials for the medical market.
Why do you think it’s becoming increasingly important to develop new plastic materials for the medical market?
It comes down to innovation. The medical sector has always been an innovative market, but the call is for purposeful innovation. There is a strong desire to move away from some materials, like flex- polyvinyl chloride (flex-PVC), that have issues associated with them. However, flex-PVC is still a useful material at a good price point with a strong, installed technical base. A replacement material needs to be able to capitalise on that installed base of equipment and process and work with established connector materials whilst providing a competitive price point.
Why are we trying to find new plastic materials, and not simply using alternatives to plastic?
Alternatives to plastic are just not viable for medical tubing, connectors, and bags. There is no other material family that is capable of providing the range of benefits plastic provides. Plastic is flexible and lightweight, as well as being durable and resilient. It can also be sterilised and manufactured in hygienic conditions.
There is a tendency to forget that legacy, non-plastic materials were used in the medical sector extensively for many years. These materials were gradually replaced with plastics because data and patient safety review showed plastics provided better clinical outcomes, usually at a lower price point, and also enhanced the quality of life for patients.
What do you think is important for manufacturers to be aware of technically when developing new plastic materials?
Manufacturers need to be aware of end uses for materials and targeted properties. Developing the process for manufacturing requires you to start with the end in mind.
How do you think manufacturers can best develop new plastic materials in an environmentally friendly way?
Manufacturers should be aware of the environmental impact of their products and what the product life cycle is. There are advantages associated with having a product with a better end of life use or a product that is better for the environment in terms of production and processing.
Please tell us a little bit about Styroflex 4G80?
Styroflex is a styrene based thermoplastic elastomer. It is a block copolymer of styrene and butadiene, which gives it some unique properties. It was targeted to be able to run on the installed equipment base for PVC with little or no modification. It also maintains good clarity for use in intravenous tubing or infusion tubing for visualisation of bubbles. The material can be solvent bonded to a similar family of connectors as flex-PVC can.
What are the benefits of Styroflex compared to traditional materials like PVC?
The material is as much as 20% less dense than PVC, so there is more yield of tubing per point of material. Compared to more traditional elastomers, the material is capable of being solvent bonded to conventional connectors, which gives it a unique cross section of capabilities.