Plastics play an essential role in medicine, healthcare, pharmaceutical manufacturing and chemical analysis. They form smooth and contoured joint-free surfaces that are easily cleaned. They give equipment an attractive and reassuring appearance, and they help keep people safe in research and analytical environments. If it wasn’t for plastics we’d probably all be a lot less healthy!
C-Plex produces plastic parts for businesses operating across the healthcare and life sciences spectrum. Here are the details.
Benefits of Plastics
Low density and formability are two of the major reasons for using plastics. Using reaction injection molding (RIM) or vacuum or thermoforming it’s possible to create complex geometries difficult to form in metal. What’s more, these are light, making them easy to install and take off, and they add minimal weight to structures or parts that move.
Another big benefit is the appearance. Parts formed in plastic can be any color and given smooth or textured surfaces as needed.
A less well-known benefit is that plastics can be formulated to have some specific, performance-enhancing properties. In healthcare anti-microbial surfaces are very useful, while sensitive equipment may benefit from EMI and UV shielding.
As a formulator, C-Plex gives plastic parts properties like these by incorporating appropriate additives into otherwise standard polyurethane compounds.
Thermoplastics and Thermosets for Healthcare and Life Science Applications
Many polymers are suitable for medical and laboratory applications. Those processed at C-Plex include HDPE, UHMW, ABS, acrylic, nylon, Kydex, and polyurethane.
Of the materials on this list, polyurethane is perhaps the most versatile because of our highly customizable formulations. Unlike the others, it is made directly into the final form by combining two components right at the mold. (Thermoplastics go through an intermediate form as sheet, extrusion or granules.)
Through adjustments in the chemistry, a polyurethane product can be produced as soft or rigid foams, as coatings or elastomers, or as solid parts with varying degrees of flexibility.
Forming Processes
Polyurethane is processed into plastic parts by the RIM process. This requires a mold which provides the upper and/or lower surfaces of the part. A polyol compound is mixed with an isocyanate and pumped into the cavity in the mold. After curing the mold is opened and the part released.
Finishing operations for RIM parts include trimming any flash, drilling holes and milling or routing any slots and openings needed. In most cases the surface finish, which replicates that on the mold, is good enough that no other operations are needed.
The two other processes used extensively for plastic parts are thermoforming and vacuum forming. Both start with sheet material and form it into the shape needed.
Thermoforming uses heat to soften the plastic enough that it can be formed into complex shapes. It’s even possible to form tubes.
In vacuum forming a sheet is heated to make it pliable, then sucked down over a former by vacuum.
The largest sheets that C-Plex can process are 4’ x 8’. As a small border is needed around the sheet for clamping, the biggest parts that can be formed are slightly smaller.
Applications
Equipment and devices used in healthcare, analytical labs, and life science applications must be strong and durable. Chemical resistance is often desired to guard against spills and to ensure surfaces survive rigorous cleaning. Anti-microbial surfaces are another way to ensure cleanliness.
A high quality appearance is often important and in some cases EMI shielding and UV resistance are desired. Fire resistance is another characteristic sometimes needed.
Plastics are ideal for environments where these challenges are present, which is why you’ll see them used extensively. There’s no limit to the applications, but some of the most common are:
- Access doors, panels and covers for equipment
- Auto sampler housings
- Handles
- Bed and stretcher components
- Fume hoods
- Vial holders
Finding dependable suppliers of high quality plastic pieces for healthcare, life science, and analytical laboratory applications is never easy. Look for one that can demonstrate an expert understanding of polymers and polyurethanes and mastery of the forming processes. They should also understand the end uses to which the pieces will be put and be able to perform value-add services like assembly and machining.
C-Plex is an established plastic parts manufacturer with RIM, vacuum and thermoforming processes all under one roof. Using our deep materials expertise, we can formulate polymers with the exact combination of properties your application needs. We can also assemble and machine as required. Contact us to learn more.
