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  4. Thermoplastics 201

Thermoplastics 201

Proper selection of a thermoplastic material for a given application requires assessment of the environment the material will be exposed to. This includes:

  • Chemical exposure
  • Temperature range
  • Environmental exposure (UV, weather)
  • Mechanical stresses (flexion, tension, impact)

The selected material has to be compatible with the manufacturing process (extrusion, molding, thermoforming) and any secondary processes involved (bonding, printing, cutting). Other considerations that factor into the decision include:

  • Required dimensional accuracy and stability
  • Cost
  • Regulatory (FDA, NSF, USP)
  • Product lifetime and disposal

Thermoplastic materials can also be categorized in terms of their morphology, which can either be amorphous or semi-crystalline.

The polymer chains in amorphous thermoplastics such as polystyrene, polycarbonate, and polysulfone have a randomly order structure. The thermal properties of these materials are generally characterized by a glass transition temperature (Tg). Below its Tg an amorphous thermoplastic is a rigid glass. Above its Tg an amorphous thermoplastic will transition to a leathery solid and then gradually soften as temperature is increased.

The polymer chains in semi-crystalline thermoplastics such as polypropylene, polyamides, and PEEK are able to organize to a degree into tightly-packed, ordered structures or crystals. These crystalline structures will exhibit a sharp melting point. Polymer chains and segments that aren’t able to crystallize will remain amorphous. The amorphous phase of the material will often exhibit a glass transition temperature. At its melting point, a semi-crystalline thermoplastic will become a low viscosity melt.

A thermoplastics morphology type has significant influence on its properties and, therefore, is a key consideration when selecting the proper thermoplastic for a given application. The following table gives examples and general characteristics of each morphology. While each individual thermoplastic is unique and every application is different, these general characteristics are useful in assessing which morphology class is best suited for a given application.

Morphology Example thermoplastics General Characteristics
Amorphous PS, PC, PSU
  • Soften above Tg
  • Transparent/translucent
  • Low shrinkage
 
  • Dimensional accuracy
  • Dimensional stability
  • Good toughness
  • Melt strength for extrusion, thermoforming
  • Good bondability

Semi-crystalline

PP, PA, PEEK
  • Sharp melting point
  • Usually Opaque
  • Higher shrinkage
  • Chemical resistance
  • Wear resistance
  • Load bearing and fatigue resistance
  • Good flow characteristics for injection molding
  • Lower bondability

Thermoplastic materials can also be formulated with a variety of additives in order to meet application requirements. Examples of such additives include UV stabilizers, antioxidants, antimicrobials, antistats, reinforcements, colorants, and processing aids.

Considerations unique to medical applications such as medical tubing include regulatory restrictions on base resin and additive selection and compatibility with sterilization (autoclave, gamma, EtO). Medical materials often will have to pass specific biological testing such as cytotoxicity or hemotoxicity and have resistance and compatibility to biological and medical fluids.

About Saint-Gobain

Saint-Gobain designs, manufactures and distributes materials and solutions which are key ingredients in the wellbeing of each of us and the future of all. They can be found everywhere in our living places and our daily life: in buildings, transportation, infrastructure and in so many industrial applications.

 

Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics' group of businesses gather solutions to save energy, provide protection, improve comfort and sustain the environment for a variety of markets.

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Saint-Gobain’s medical products are distributed exclusively to medical device manufacturers for use in the manufacture, assembly or distribution of their medical devices. Saint-Gobain cannot authorize the sale of its medical products directly to device user facilities (e.g. hospitals, surgery centers, nursing home, clinics, etc.), nor directly to end users (e.g. patients, patients’ caregiver, prescribing physician, nurse, pharmacist, etc.), including distributors serving device user facilities and end users directly. In accordance with every jurisdiction globally, Saint-Gobain’s customers are responsible for determining that any medical device they manufacture and market that incorporates a Saint-Gobain’s medical product, is compliant with each country-specific medical device regulations and has received proper country-specific clearance, certification or registration authorizing the sale of this medical device.


Saint-Gobain’s medical products offer covers:
- Medical Components [21 CFR 820.3(c)], intended for processing or use in the manufacture or assembly of medical devices before the finished medical device is packaged/labeled; Medical Components are intended to be included as part of the finished, packaged, and labeled device [21CFR820.3(c)].
- Finished Devices [21CFR820.3(l)] made on behalf of medical device manufacturers [21 CFR 807.20(a)(2)] under contract-manufacturing agreement. In accordance with the United States’ jurisdiction, Saint-Gobain complies with the FDA’s requirements for contract manufacturers of finished devices.

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