New SAN copolymer added to BASF's medical technology plastics' portfolio

15-Oct-08

BASF's HD (Healthcare and Diagnostics) services have added one more plastic specialty, Luran® HD (a styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer) to its existing line of plastics for medical technology. In comparison to other transparent materials, Luran is more resistant to chemicals, stiffer, easier to process and offers high resistance to fluctuations in temperature. This material is already available in commercial quantities. As per a senior executive with the company, the new plastic will be an effectively suited for specimen holders used in large-scale experiments, urine containers, vacuum bottles or nebulizer housings due to its thermal stability and transparency. The new material can be sterilised with beta/gamma radiation, it is microwave-stable and moreover less expensive than other transparent plastics like PMMA or PC. BASF is now also offering Luran HD in combination with a comprehensive service package including not only technical support for applications, compatibility tests with specific chemicals and biocompatibility tests but also creation of so-called drug master files (DMF). Other products in BASF's medical technology plastics portfolio include Terluran® HD (ABS) which offers a very good balance between toughness and stiffness, Terlux® HD (MABS) which exhibits combination of transparency and impact-resistance and engineering plastic Ultraform® PRO (POM) which is capable of withstanding high mechanical loads and exhibits good sliding-friction properties.