Bayer MaterialScience LLC Fills Industry Need with Expanded Medical Thermoplastic Polyurethane Product Line

New York, NY, June 09, 2011 --(PR.com)-- Bayer MaterialScience LLC is adding three new grades to its medical thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) product line. The new TPU medical grades, which are all commercially available, extend the hardness range of Bayer MaterialScience LLC’s TPU product portfolio. Texin® RxT70A resin, Texin® RxSTX120 resin and Texin® RxHM125 resin were introduced for the first time at MD&M East, which took place June 6 – 9, 2011.

Texin RxT70A TPU is a plasticizer-free resin with good hydrolysis, low temperature flexibility, and high moisture vapor transmission rates. Typical medical applications include catheters and catheter balloons, specialty tubing and profiles. It can also be used for gaskets and soft overmolding applications, such as grips. Like other medical grades in Bayer MaterialScience LLC’s family of Texin TPUs, it also exhibits an outstanding balance of flexibility, strength and toughness.

“This new material represents the softest thermoplastic polyurethane in Bayer MaterialScience’s product line,” said Gary Sandhu, sales and marketing manager, Thermoplastic Polyurethane NAFTA, Bayer MaterialScience LLC. “This grade of Texin resin gives molders and OEMs a plasticizer-free material that offers better adhesion to a variety of substrates, such as nylon, polycarbonate (PC) and PC/ABS (polycarbonate/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene),” he continued.

In addition to Texin RxT70A TPU, Bayer Materialscience LLC is also introducing two hard, high-modulus grades of Texin TPU.

Texin RxHM125 is a clear TPU with a Rockwell hardness of 125 (87 Shore D) – the hardest of the new grades – and a flexural modulus of 330,000 PSI. It is clear, with a slight amber hue that can be tinted to provide a custom-color clear tint.

Texin RxSTX120 is an opaque, high-performing TPU that offers even greater impact properties. This grade has a cream to ivory natural look and can be easily colored.

Both of these high-modulus TPU grades offer excellent heat and chemical resistance, low moisture absorption, low mold shrinkage, a low coefficient of thermal expansion, and good abrasion resistance. These grades are well-suited for a number of medical applications, including connectors, clips, luers, equipment housings, stopcocks and fittings.

“We saw there was a need for high-modulus medical grade TPUs in the market place,” said Tim Jacobs, market channel manager, Thermoplastic Polyurethane NAFTA, Bayer MaterialScience LLC. “Introducing these two new grades, which complement Bayer MaterialScience’s existing TPU product line, is indicative of our customer-centric focus and commitment to be their material supplier of choice,” he continued.

All of the new TPU grades, which can be processed by injection molding or extrusion, meet certain test requirements of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-modified version of ISO 10993, Part 1 “Biological Evaluation of Medical Devices” with human tissue contact time of 30 days or less. This is the widely accepted standard for biocompatibility.

Bayer MaterialScience LLC is one of the leading producers of polymers and high-performance plastics in North America and is part of the global Bayer MaterialScience business with approximately 14,400 employees at 30 production sites around the world and 2010 sales of 10.2 billion euros. The company manufactures high-tech polymer materials and develops innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, electrical and electronics, construction, medical, and sports and leisure industries. Sustainability is central to Bayer MaterialScience LLC’s business and is based around the key areas of innovation, product stewardship, excellence in corporate management, social responsibility and respect for the environment.

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