Choose the Right Rubber Material & Process for Your Medical Parts

When it’s time to design and develop a new medical device that calls for an elastomer component, there are a number of material options and manufacturing processes to consider. The long list of material properties impacting performance includes your prospective polymer’s end-use environment, chemical compatibility, hardness, compression set, tensile properties and manufacturability, to name a few.

Although the selection process may appear daunting, understanding your application, the physical and mechanical properties of your material options and the interaction with mating components will go a long way. These key attributes in conjunction with understanding volume ramp schedules will drive the proper manufacturing processes to ensure a successful product launch.

This article will walk you through some of the factors and trade-offs you’ll need to address when selecting a polymer for your medical component. It will also describe some of the capabilities that rubber and plastic specialists can provide you to enhance your product development.