A Portfolio Of Materials To Help Protect Patients From Infection

A portfolio of materials to help protect patients from infection

27-Oct-16

SABIC and PDI, a leader in infection-prevention products and solutions for the healthcare industry, have collaborated on a joint study on the environmental stress cracking resistance (ESCR) of SABIC’s materials used for medical device enclosures. The two companies evaluated how well SABIC’s industry-leading thermoplastics withstand repeated exposure to PDI’s Super Sani-Cloth® wipes¹, one of the leading surface disinfectants widely used in the healthcare environment to help prevent HAIs. Using a testing procedure following ASTM D543 guidelines, the study revealed that several of SABIC’s product technologies – including LEXAN™ EXL (PC) resin, XYLEX™ (PC/polyester blend) resin and VALOX™ (PBT) resin – deliver improved compatibility with PDI’s leading healthcare-grade disinfectant.

These and other products in SABIC’s robust portfolio of chemically resistant healthcare materials give manufacturers new options for designing medical applications that maintain outstanding performance, while also addressing the disinfection demands of today’s healthcare environment. XENOY™ resin, as an example, is an excellent candidate for high-touch healthcare applications that also require strength and rigidity, from portable electronic device housings to hospital bedside rails and footboards.
Evolving global fire safety regulations and compliance with sanitation standards are driving designers and maintenance managers to identify solutions to enhance building safety. LEXAN CLINIWALL™ sheet can be an excellent candidate for cleanroom surfaces and interior wall claddings in public facilities and hospitals where aesthetics and hygiene are both paramount. Compared to high-pressure laminates, ceramics and steel, the lightweight product may help significantly lower system costs through consolidation of parts to streamline production, and avoidance of secondary operations such as painting and coating, machining and polishing. It typically also offers high impact and scratch resistance, is virtually unbreakable, and can withstand the rigors of harsh chemical cleaning agents typically used in medical environments.
SABIC is dedicated to the continued expansion of material offerings for the healthcare industry. Recent product introductions have included PET and PVC. Specifically, the PET offering includes SABIC PCG PET80 and SABIC PCG PET84 which can be used in pharma bottles for syrups and tablets, and can provide a safer alternative to glass with its shatter resistance, light weighting and glass-like transparency. For PVC, SABIC PVC71S offers good clarity, high flexibility, excellent strength and toughness for applications including blood bags, catheters and dialysis tubing. In 2017, SABIC’s portfolio will also include PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) and POM (unfilled polyoxymethylene or polyacetal).

The move toward greater outpatient care and home administration of medication has created the need for improved safety in the home healthcare environment. Drug-delivery device manufacturers are looking for solutions that can make it easy and safe for patients to accurately administer their own medication.

SABIC’s XENOY resin which can be used for portable insulin pump housings, provide impact resistance and improved chemical resistance to common cosmetic chemicals such as bug sprays and sunscreens. LEXAN HP resins used for the lens can provide excellent clarity and bonds well with the XENOY resins to provide water tightness.

CYCOLOY HCX1640 resin, which meets standard healthcare regulations and can enable the design of robust, light and attractive drug delivery devices, such as insulin pens, help manufacturers achieve thin walls and dimensional stability, as well as improved weld-line performance and impact resistance. The wide range of color options available with CYCOLOY resin helps to create an attractive design that appeals to patients.

LUBRICOMP™ DCI06APH compound, a 30% carbon fiber-reinforced polycarbonate resin, combines the benefits of high-modulus carbon fiber with a high-flow, ductile polycarbonate, making it a great candidate for applications with complex part designs that require high strength and stiffness, internal lubrication and good processability.