Healthcare

GLS TPEs - Cleaner and safer materials for healthcare applications

Before the advent of TPE materials, thermoset rubber was used for elastomeric medical applications. Since their introduction, TPEs have made major inroads into the medical industry due to their cleanliness (low extractables), recyclability, and cost-effectiveness.

Medical OEM's are using cleaner and safer materials in their products in response to increased public demand. Latex has been reported to cause allergic reactions for a small percentage of the population, and PVC has been reported to have adverse effects due to the migration of the plasticizers incorporated in the PVC. There has been debate on the severity and even the validity of these claims, but companies continue to seek cost-effective alternatives to these materials. Hence, TPEs have become replacements for PVC materials in medical products.

Applications Included

Advantages

Advantages of GLS TPEs in Healthcare Applications:

Low extractables
FDA compliance
Sterilizable (gamma, e-Beam, EtO, autoclave)
Select USP VI certified grades available
Latex and PVC-free
Cost-effective vs. silicone
Good sealing performance
Overmold adhesion to a variety of plastics
Easy and consistent colorability
Recyclable