German coatings and sealants specialist Actega (Bremen; www.actega.com) has introduced oil-free TPE compounds for medical devices, such as tube systems, and pharmaceutical packaging. Part of the company’s “ProvaMed“ brand, the compounds have minimal leachable or extractable substances and are free of PVC, silicone, latex and plasticisers, making them ideal for sensitive applications.

Actega said characteristics include high transparency, soft-touch haptics, kink and deformation resistance, outstanding sealing and adhesion and sterilisation ability, for example by gamma radiation, ethylene oxide and autoclaves. In tube sytems, for example, kink stability is essential to ensure that liquids and gases can flow unimpeded, as is the ability for the material to recover after deformation. Other key properties are good absorption properties and coating suitability for low-friction surfaces.

For medical and pharmaceutical packaging applications, the compounds have advantages compared with glass. For liquid medication, for example, using a TPE formula eliminates any leaching by alkaline components from the glass. TPE compounds are also much lighter and much safer than glass, which can break easily.