New medical-grade polycarbonates from Covestro meet demands for drug delivery and surgical devices
Expanded healthcare portfolio
Pittsburgh, January 30, 2020 — With more than 50 years of experience in the healthcare industry, Covestro continues to expand its materials offering to help manufacturers meet requirements for life-enhancing applications. The company is introducing two medical-grade polycarbonate families for drug delivery and surgical devices that patients and medical professionals can rely on.
Smooth delivery with low-friction polycarbonate
More and more, patients are using autoinjectors and injection pens to self-administer therapeutics from the comfort of their own home or on the go. These devices are expected to operate consistently every time, and utilize low-friction components to ensure injections are reliable and smooth.
To meet challenging low-friction requirements, Covestro is launching three new medical-grade polycarbonates: Makrolon® M204 LF, Makrolon® M402 LF and Makrolon® M404 LF. Featuring reduced coefficients of friction, these grades deliver the excellent dimensional and mechanical properties of polycarbonate while eliminating the need for external lubricants.
The new low-friction Makrolon® polycarbonates offer the following benefits to drug delivery devices:
- Lower deployment forces
- Durability and biocompatibility according to ISO 10993-1
- Sterilizable with various methods, including autoclave, ethylene oxide and radiation (e-Beam, gamma)
“We built on the superior performance of polycarbonate to formulate low-friction grades that offer consistency and versatility which, in turn, help OEMs design devices that address emerging drug delivery trends,” said Doug Hamilton, global healthcare marketing leader, Covestro LLC.
Superior strength with glass-filled polycarbonate
Covestro also developed new glass-filled polycarbonates for surgical and drug delivery applications that demand stiffness and strength, such as load-bearing internal components for drug delivery devices and handles for minimally invasive or laparoscopic surgical tools.
These grades are divided into two series with varying levels of reinforcement. The high-performance series includes Makrolon® M810 GF, Makrolon® M820 GF and Makrolon® M830 GF polycarbonate. In the high-flow series, Makrolon® M410 GF, Makrolon® M420 GF and Makrolon® M430 GF polycarbonate are used for filling larger or thinner parts with improved productivity.
Additional advantages of Makrolon® GF polycarbonates include:
- Biocompatibility according to ISO 10993-1 for applications less than 30 days
- Superior rigidity and strength
- High-gloss surface achievable with rapid heat cycle molding
- Higher tensile modulus and tensile strength, and improved dimensional stability under stress when compared to unfilled polycarbonate
“Our expanded materials offering gives healthcare OEMs access to a wide range of glass-filled polycarbonate products that deliver performance tailored to fit their applications,” said Hamilton.
Attendees at Pharmapack, February 5-6, in Paris, can visit the Covestro booth (K46) to learn more about the company’s polycarbonate materials for the healthcare industry. Covestro will also highlight its materials at booth #2221 during MD&M West Conference and Exposition, February 11-13, in Anaheim, California.
About Covestro LLC:
Covestro LLC is one of the leading producers of high-performance polymers in North America and is part of the global Covestro business, which is among the world’s largest polymer companies with 2018 sales of EUR 14.6 billion. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, construction, wood processing and furniture, electrical and electronics, and healthcare industries. Other sectors include sports and leisure, cosmetics and the chemical industry itself. Covestro has 30 production sites worldwide and employed approximately 16,800 people at the end of 2018
Find more information at www.covestro.us, www.solutions.covestro.com/en/materials/plastics, HealthcareLF.Makrolon.com or HealthcareGF.Makrolon.com.
Makrolon® is a registered trademark of the Covestro Group.
Covestro Contact:
John Skabardonis, Phone: +1 412 413 5444
John.Skabardonis@covestro.com
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This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Covestro AG. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Covestro’s public reports which are available at www.covestro.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.
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