During Medtec Europe, PolyOne GLS Thermoplastic Elastomers, was joined by Arburg and Advaltech Foboha for a Lunch & Learn event.
Plastics processors attending the event were treated to short presentations on what to consider when switching from traditional vulcanized elastomers to TPEs. Tool design, things to consider for clean room moulding machinery and operations, and the advantages of TPEs all were discussed. After the presentations, attendees joined the experts from GLS, Arburg and Foboha for lunch and in-depth discussions.
John Voyce, marketing manager in Europe for GLS Thermoplastic Elastomers, was pleased with the high level of engagement from the attendees. As Voyce noted during his presentation, global megatrends including an ageing population, the increase in treatable chronic disease, and the growth of medical treatment in developing regions, create a scenario in which pharmaceutical brand owners need a supply chain able to match the demand growth for safe medicine generated by these trends.
Attendees at the Lunch & Learn, which was organised by PolyOne, discussed the two processing techniques. If vulcanised elastomers are selected for pharmaceutical packaging, a processor must slog through a lengthy manufacturing path to finally realise suitable part. Rubber must be blended with ingredients such as curing agents; heated to homogenise the mix; and then thermoset injection moulding is needed, with the resulting long cycle times to allow for curing of the material.
After curing and ejection from a mould, parts must be washed to remove any ingredients that did not react.
By comparison, processors that select TPEs for overmoulding and sealing applications in this packaging can realise advantages including:
Faster injection time
TPEs can bond directly to rigid substrates
TPEs can be coloured for branding, identification or other purposes
TPE parts need not be washed after molding
PolyOne GLS presented Versaflex HC 2110-35N, a 35 shore A material for resealing septums and stoppers that has been approved to ISO 10993-4&5; USP VI and USP 38.
Other solutions discussed to help both pharmaceutical packaging and medical devices producers included:
TPEs for static and dynamic seals and stoppers
Including low coefficient of friction
Low gas and vapour permeation
Ergonomic enhancement
Grip on home treatment drug delivery devices
Grip on drug packaging for ease of opening
Surgical devices to enable greater control during procedures.