TOPAS Advanced Polymers Announces Developmental Grade of TOPAS® Cyclic Olefin Copolymer (COC) Elastomer
An Industry First, Targeted For Medical Devices, Specialty Pharmaceutical Packaging, and Medical Tubing
FLORENCE, Ky., September 30, 2010 (updated since) – TOPAS Advanced Polymers announces the development of the industry’s first cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) elastomer, TOPAS® Elastomer E-140. This highly flexible developmental grade is targeted as a high-performance alternative to traditional flexible materials for a broad range of applications such as medical devices, specialty pharmaceutical packaging, food packaging, and medical tubing.
This innovative TOPAS® Elastomer expands the company’s product offering and opens up a broad range of new market opportunities. It extends TOPAS’ technology platform beyond the current line of amorphous transparent grades which have been successful in medical devices and drug delivery, food and pharmaceutical packaging, optics, and electronics.
“These transparent polymers now deliver toughness and flexibility that go well beyond typical cyclic olefin resins”, said Timothy Kneale, president of TOPAS Advanced Polymers, Inc. “They also offer exceptional barrier properties for an elastomeric material.”
Product evaluations show that the new TOPAS® Elastomer possesses strength and stiffness suitable for numerous flexible applications. Tensile modulus is reported at 6400 psi while elongation at break is greater than 450%. In addition, the material’s low dielectric properties are comparable to some fluoroelastomers, providing strong electrical insulation performance. Another key feature is the material’s ability to maintain excellent ductility at temperatures below -90°C.
The initial grade, TOPAS® Elastomer E-140, is highly flexible and has an 89 Shore A hardness. It meets USP Class VI requirements for use in medical devices, and complies with U.S. FDA food-contact regulations as detailed in FDA FCN 1104.
Like standard TOPAS® COC grades, the new elastomers are high-purity resins with low leachables and extractables, making them suitable for flexible PVC and TPE replacement in medical tubing, IV bags, and other healthcare applications. A recent successful trial in medical tubing has demonstrated the material’s strong kink-resistant qualities.
Early testing shows that the new TOPAS® Elastomer withstands both gamma and e-beam sterilization. It can be injection molded and extruded into film, sheet, tubing or other components on existing processing equipment. Unlike some thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), the material requires no pre-drying.
Evaluations have shown that TOPAS® Elastomer E-140 can be used as a modifier for COC in multilayer film formulations that require greater toughness and enhanced sustainability. Film strength is greatly improved in COC formulations containing 25% or less of the new TOPAS® Elastomer. As the E-140 material has exceptional barrier properties for an elastomer, it can deliver additional shelf life to products requiring low oxygen, moisture or nitrogen permeation.
The company has completed multiple commercial-scale production runs and the new grade is available in commercial quantities. As of 2016, the product is commercial in both food and healthcare applications.
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