International Polymer
Engineering is producing small-diameter
microtubes and profiles made of KetaSpire
polyetheretherketone (PEEK) resin from Solvay Advanced Polymers LLC for the medical industry. Microtubes
made of KetaSpire PEEK offer greater strength and rigidity than PTFE microtubes
and are easier to work with than those made of stainless steel. They are used
in a range of medical applications including catheters, endoscopic working
channels and laparoscopic instruments. IPE
has produced microtubes made of unfilled KetaSpire KT-820 NT PEEK in sizes of
0.029 OD by 0.016 inch ID (0.74 OD by 0.41mm ID) and 0.077 OD by 0.057 inch ID
(1.96 OD by 1.45 mm ID). The company can make PEEK tubes with up to a 0.25 inch
(6.35 mm) diameter. IPE manufactures
the microtubes on a 1 inch extruder specially designed for high-temperature
materials like PEEK, which process at very high melt temperatures in the range
of 370C (700F). IPE also has the capacity to manufacture PEEK profiles, both
open and hollow, for a wide range of applications.
KetaSpire PEEK is a chemically
resistant plastic and offers strength, fatigue resistance and a continuous-use
temperature of 240C (464F). It can withstand more than 1,000 cycles of steam
sterilization without any significant loss of properties and is also compatible
with other sterilization methods, including ethylene oxide, vaporized hydrogen
peroxide and gamma radiation. Based on biocompatibility testing as defined by
ISO 10993-1, KetaSpire PEEK demonstrates no evidence of cytotoxicity,
sensitization, intracutaneous reactivity or systemic toxicity.
