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PVC and phthalate plasticizers have recently withdrawn from the news cycle, but they are still the top consideration for plastic processors and material suppliers, as evidenced by the two press releases issued today. Medical technology manufacturer Raumedic (Hlmbrechts, Germany) reiterated the development of PVC and plasticizer-free plastic products for medical tubing and related applications in its press release. In terms of film, Renolit (Worms, Germany) announced that it has changed all its signs and graphics products produced in the United States to use Pevalen, a non-phthalate ester developed by Perstorp (Malmo, Sweden) Plasticizer.  

The company noted that Raumedic has developed a series of components made of plasticizer-free alternative materials that can be used in blood transfusion and pump applications as well as gravity kits for parenteral infusion systems. “The market needs plasticizer-free alternatives to PVC, but they should still have PVC-like properties,” explained Dr. Ralf Ziembinski, head of Raumedic’s pipe business unit. "It has been shown that DEHP or DOP has reproductive toxicity characteristics and can be dissolved relatively easily from the material," he said, adding that the EU's current exemption for the use of these plasticizers in blood bags and blood transfusions has expired In three years.

Raumedic provides polypropylene and polyurethane as alternatives to PVC in medical grade tubing. Ziembinski said that when more cost-effective alternatives to soft PP and PUR are needed, co-extrusion may be a solution.

"We have developed a medical-grade two-layer tube made of EVA and styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) in this field," Ziembinski said. "Because the outer layer can be dyed, the tube can optimize the delivery of photosensitive drugs, such as chemotherapeutic substances. Thanks to the transparent inner layer, the active ingredients do not come into contact with the colored pigments," Ziembinski said. Although this material combination is about 25% more expensive than PVC, medical device manufacturers will benefit from a key advantage: "The outer layer of the pipe layer made of SBR can be easily bonded, which plays a key role in the secondary processing. ," Ziembinski said.

Raumedic will be exhibiting at the PLASTEC and medical design and manufacturing events in Minneapolis on October 23 and 24. The company is eager to interact with attendees at booth 1416.

Non-phthalate film is a symbol of Renolit's era

American Renolit (La Porte, Indiana) is a subsidiary of Renolit, headquartered in Worms, Germany. It claims to be the first in the industry to use Perstorp's Pevalen to eliminate phthalates in its calendered film Salt company. The non-phthalate plasticizer is based on polyol ester chemistry and was first introduced at K 2013.

Renolit believes that switching to Pevalen will resonate with customers in terms of environment and safety, as well as its processability and performance. "Our high-quality signage and graphics products have had a significant impact on many of our customers, and these products have been developed with their processing requirements and end-use performance in mind," commented Ralph Gut, Renolit Business Unit Manager.

Renolit said it tested several non-phthalate plasticizers before choosing Pevalen. According to the company, customer trials went extremely smoothly, and pointed out that some customers were impressed by the four key areas of product improvement: UV stability, shrinkage, color, and printability. It added that Pevalen also has excellent processing properties and its carbon dioxide emissions are significantly reduced compared to any other non-phthalate esters on the market. Renolit said that this material is produced using biogas energy, combined with its sustainable characteristics, making it an excellent choice for protecting the environment.

Customized products using Renolit film are used for indoor and outdoor advertising and branding, vehicle and architectural graphics, as well as product identification and other technical applications.

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