PHILADELPHIA — Lubrizol Corp. is expanding its signature line of Pellethane thermoplastic polyurethane products, aimed at advanced wound care and the multi-function medical device market.
The eight new additions to the line, introduced this week at the 30th annual MD&M East trade show in Philadelphia June 18-20, are a mix of polyester and polyether aromatic TPU products, all with high moisture vapor transmission rates that move moisture away from the skin, promoting healing, but without being permeable, said Lubrizol LifeScience Polymers's global marketing manager Uwe Winzen.
“It absorbs the moisture and once it goes through the urethane, it evaporates from there,” he said. “Moisture control and moisture transmission is very important in wound care.”
The two polyester and six polyether products still offer all of the advantageous qualities of PE, Winzen said, including being stiff without kinking, ideal for tubing, films, catheters and even garments and drapes, where breathability is advantageous but sterility and protection is key.
With the expanded Pellethane line, Lubrizol is also able to offer the new, lower-cost products at expanded volumes — rather then previously only being available in “small batch” 50 kg. orders, the new products can be made in orders of thousands of pounds, Winzen said.