Solvay Specialty Polymers, a supplier of high-performance thermoplastics for a range of market applications including implantable and non-implantable medical devices, will showcase its diverse portfolio of advanced materials for healthcare applications at the 10th China International Medical Equipment Design & Technology Exhibition (MEDTECC-hina) held at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center from September 25 to 26, 2014.

For long-term and lasting implants and short-term medical devices, Solvay’s high-performance plastics have high strength and lightweight product characteristics, outstanding design flexibility, easy processing, compliance with registration specifications, and the ability to distinguish different products and brands by color. Solvay’s global medical business team has always focused on the medical implant market (Solviva Biomaterials Series), the hemodialysis market, and various emerging fields in the global medical industry. Solvay’s non-implantable medical-grade plastics can be used in various fields including surgical tools, reusable and disposable instruments, medical equipment, sterilization boxes and trays.

“Thanks to our broad product portfolio, Solvay has firmly established itself as a strategic supplier to the medical device industry in China,” said Maria Gallahue-Worl, Global Business Manager for Solvay Specialty Polymers Medical Industry. “We leverage our position as a supplier of high-performance polymers to support a wide range of applications, from surgical tools to implantable devices.”

Last year, the company announced that its Solviva Biomaterials had successfully expanded into the Chinese implant market. “China plays a vital role in high-growth markets, including the medical industry, and we are committed to developing new material solutions to continuously support and promote the advancement of the medical device market.” Gallahue-Worl added: “The company is leveraging its extensive experience in polymer manufacturing and continuously investing new resources to provide customers with a variety of competitive advantages that meet end-use needs.” She said. Currently, Solvay mainly conducts localized R&D, sales and promotion activities at its Shanghai base to serve the booming Chinese market.

Solviva Biomaterials product line can be used in various implantable medical devices. They include Zeniva Polyetheretherketone (PEEK), which has a modulus very close to that of bone and has good biocompatibility, toughness and fatigue resistance; Eviva Polysulfone (PSU), which has very practical toughness and is a high-strength transparent polymer; and Veriva Polyphenylene sulfone (PPSU), which has good toughness and transparency, as well as excellent biocompatibility; in addition, Proniva Self-reinforced polyphenylene ether (SRP) is one of the world’s most rigid and strong non-reinforced thermoplastic materials, with extraordinary biocompatibility and hardness.

Solvay offers a wide range of medical grade plastics for a wide range of applications including surgical tools, reusable and single-use instruments, medical devices, sterilization boxes and trays, etc. This portfolio includes Radel polyphenyl sulfone (PPSU), a super tough transparent plastic that can withstand more than 1,000 steam sterilization cycles without any noticeable loss of performance, making it an ideal material choice for instrument boxes, trays and other reusable medical devices; Udel polysulfone (PSU), a hard, high-strength, good-toughness transparent plastic with higher heat resistance and better hydrolytic stability than polycarbonate (PC), which can still maintain good mechanical properties when sterilized by oxidants, steam and other methods, and is also available in opaque, transparent and glass fiber reinforced grades.

Other key material solutions include lxef polyarylamide (PARA), which uniquely combines high rigidity with super surface smoothness comparable to metallic spray paint. The gamma-stable color series can be sterilized by gamma rays without significant changes in the product’s appearance and mechanical properties. AvaSpire polyaryletherketone (PAEK), a general-purpose series with patented formulations, is tailored to provide a new and unique combination of performance and value. The AV-600 series has good chemical resistance and excellent impact toughness, and can withstand more than 1,000 steam sterilization cycles. KetaSpire polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is one of the most chemically resistant plastics, with excellent strength, rigidity and fatigue resistance, and can be used continuously in hot water or steam environments without significant loss of its physical properties.

As a key raw material supplier for the medical industry, Solvay has more than 20 years of industry experience and continues to invest a lot of new resources to help customers improve efficiency and reduce costs. The company believes that replacing metal with plastic will continue to be the focus of manufacturers, but the growing cost pressure and continued double-digit market growth rate will be new challenges facing the industry.

Solvay provides a full range of services to the global medical industry, including design support, technical services and application development. At the same time, it will continue to be committed to the research and development of polymer technologies to provide new material options for medical device OEMs and processors.

——Quoted from “Plastics International”