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Article: The functionality and cost advantages of high-performance polymers: advancements in polymers are providing solutions to progressively more demanding applications. By using premium performance materials and processes in an innovative way, economies in weight, manufacture and assembly can be achieved. The possibilities are explored here in several product examples.(materials)
- Article from:
- Medical Device Technology
- Article date:
- September 1, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 Advanstar Communications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Polymers for cost-sensitive applications
Despite increasing acceptance of polymers and growth in application knowledge, it is clear that there is still enormous potential for polymers in medical devices. Advances in polymers include new barrier materials (especially oxygen and moisture barrier), highly permeable grades, conductive materials, low wear/low friction grades, multiple sterilisation resistant grades (see Figure 1) and low-emission acetals. In addition, manufacturing processes have become ever more sophisticated. Advances in gas injection moulding, water injection moulding, multiple shot moulding, injection blow moulding and three-dimensional blow ...