Smart Molding International 1-2022

46 materials smart_molding international 1/2022 A s the number of emergency hospital visits and surgical pro - cedures has increased, so has the demand for catheter connectors. Furthermore, technological progress has resulted in these connectors be - ing used for a number of applications. Catheter connectors are available in a variety of types, including needleless IV catheter connectors, suction cath - eter connectors, and more. Compounds for functional performance Catheter connectors are used to provide access to infusion and as - piration. They are important device auxiliary components for intravenous access and drug administration in or - der to reduce the risk of most serious consequences and improve patient compliance. Medical devices like catheter con - nectors benefit from high-perfor - mance materials such as thermoplas - tic elastomers (TPEs), which guarantee user safety and efficiency. TPEs are ideal material solutions for the medical industry, mainly because TPEs are halogen and latex-free and are easier to process, in comparison to other materials. KRAIBURG TPE, a global TPE man- ufacturer of a wide range of ther - moplastic elastomer products and custom solutions for multiple indus - tries, has developed a new line of THERMOLAST® H compounds to meet these requirements. Bespoke color options and material safety KRAIBURG TPE’s THERMOLAST® H HC/AP series offers a high degree of flexibility and a strong grip, making it ideal for catheter connector applica - tions. Additionally, THERMOLAST® H features wide hardness ranges from 30-90 Shore A and optimizable pro - cessability. The TPE compounds are translucent and can be colored in a variety of hues to meet customers’ specifications. The TPE compounds are also bio - compatible and free of animal com - ponents and other potentially dan - gerous substances. The materials have also been tested for cytotoxic - ity in compliance with ISO 10993-5 and GB/T 16886.5, as well as other approvals and standards such as Chi - na GB 4806 – 2016, US FDA CFR 21, Regulation (EU) No 10/2011, REACH, and RoHS. About KRAIBURG TPE KRAIBURG TPE is a global manufac - turer of thermoplastic elastomers. From its beginning in 2001 as a subsid - iary of the historical KRAIBURG Group founded in 1947, KRAIBURG TPE has pioneered in TPE compounds, today being the competence leader in this industry. With production sites in Germany, the U.S., and Malaysia, the company offers a broad range of com - pounds for applications in the automo - tive, industrial, consumer, and strictly regulated medical sectors. The established THERMOLAST®, COPEC®, HIPEX®, and For Tec E® product lines are processed by injection mold - ing or extrusion and provide numerous processing and product design advan - tages to manufacturers. KRAIBURG TPE features innovative capabilities as well as true global customer orientation, customized product solutions and reli - able service. The company is certified to ISO 50001 at its headquarters in Germany and holds ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications at all global sites. In 2019, KRAIBURG TPE, with 645 em - ployees worldwide, generated sales of 190 million euro. KRAIBURG TPE www.kraiburg-tpe.com The HC/AP series is a material solution designed exclusively for the healthcare and medical device market in Asia Pacific. The compounds comply with the ISO 10993-5, GB/T 16886.5 standards, as well as various global food contact and relevant medical standards. THERMOLAST® H TPE for catheter connector applications