イーストマンTritan™コポリエステルは、医療機器や筐体の耐久性と洗浄性について高い水準を誇っています。TritanはBPA フリーで、透明性、強靭性、耐熱性、耐薬品性などいずれも優れた特性を備えています。また、従来の熱可塑性樹脂とは異なる独自の化学的構造により、加工がしやすいという特長があります。このように、射出成形と性能に関する特性を兼ね備えたTritanは、一般的に使用されている他のポリマーよりも大きな優位性を持っています。Tritanには透明な製剤と不透明な製剤があり、革新的な機器の設計をより良いものにする多くのメリットを提供します。
 
Tritanの透明製剤

• より優れた強靭性、耐熱性、加工しやすさ、設計の自由度
• Clarity, color stability, and functional integrity after sterilization
• Outstanding chemical resistance to lipids, IPA, disinfecting agents, and bonding solvents and adhesives

 
Opaque formulations of Tritan

• Excellent functionality and reliability for device housings
• Compatibility with aggressive disinfection and the daily impact stresses that come with greater portability
• Color and functionality following sterilization with gamma and e-beam irradiation
• Reliable color matching
• Flame-retardant properties (Tritan MXF121 copolyester)
  • Fire retardant—UL 94 V-2 rating @ 1.5 mm
  • Excellent resistance to chemicals and lipids
  • Meets hospital Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) guidelines—made without halogens or ortho-phthalate plasticizers
  • Clear and opaque formulations—color matching available
  • Excellent durability—high impact strength and toughness
  • Fast cycle times

 
Check out the Tritan Medical Toolkit to learn more about the advantages of Tritan for different molded parts.

     

Eastman will be exhibiting at Medical Design & Manufacturing (MD&M) West, Feb. 7–9, in Anaheim, California. Join us!

 

Visit our booth to speak one on one with an Eastman representative. Members of our medical devices team, including Ellen Turner, global market development manager, and Thomas Meehan, specialty plastics technical support, will be on hand to discuss plastic testing, selection, and design. Or attend one of our Lunch and Learn events to learn more about advancements in rigid medical packaging and medical devices.

 

Check out the conference schedule to start planning your time at MDMW 2019 today. We hope to see you there!


 

医療機器の材料として使用している樹脂が原因で、ブランドイメージに大きな影響が及ぶことがあります。ヘルスケア分野の現状を見てみると、すべてのプラスチックが病院で使用されている刺激の強い消毒剤への曝露に耐えらるわけではありません。消毒剤にさらされた医療機器に黄変、ひび割れ、塗装はがれなどの兆候が見られたら、樹脂の選定を見直すべきでしょう。

 

Educating product managers about the attributes of different plastics can help better shape brand positioning. For example, cracks and crazes can lead to pooling of aggressive disinfectants and leakage into the sensitive electronics that make the device function. Choosing a more chemically resistant polymer prevents this by strengthening device durability and reducing maintenance time. As a result, the working life of the device increases and maintenance and replacement costs go down.

 

With this information, the product manager can position the brand as being resistant to the physical handling or moving of devices despite more frequent cleaning and use of harsh disinfectants. They can present brand devices as having a longer service life, keeping their "new" look longer, and being more durable. This positioning can also be used by hospitals and clinics, which can improve their image by purchasing more durable equipment that looks better because it is better.

 

By choosing materials with better quality and performance, manufacturers can help product managers position the brand as having those qualities as well.

 

 

医療機器の故障は珍しいことではなく、その上大きな費用がかります。製品のリコールや製品開発サイクルへの影響が生じ、メーカーは追加経費を計上することになります。故障の原因は複雑な要素がからみ合っている場合もあり、品質管理技術者にとって問題を分類するのが困難になります。
 
こうした問題に品質管理技術者はどう対応すればよいのでしょうか。次のような要素について考えてみましょう：
 

• なぜ故障したのかを理解する：機器の故障のほとんどは、材料の特性や加工、そして環境の相互的な作用を正しく理解していないことによって発生します。多くの故障は、不適切な材料の使用、耐薬品性の低さ、高応力設計、製造工程の不整合といった要因が組み合わさって起こります。
• サプライヤーと協力する：樹脂の選定、テスト、成形品や金型のデザインの見直し、二次加工といった工程をサプライヤーとともに行うことで、品質管理技術者はサプライヤーが持つ知識やリソースを活用することができます。
• Test your materials: Find a testing method that helps you choose the best plastic for your project. Eastman’s 4-step test for chemical resistance, for example, helps predict the reliability of a material after exposure to harsh cleaners and drugs commonly used in hospital settings.

 
Understanding the root causes of failures and working with industry experts to make better material choices can help quality engineers improve device design, have a more successful product launch, and save on costs.