SABIC releases 2 new grades for the healthcare industry

SABIC’s participation at Pharmapack Europe 2014 (Paris, February 12-13) is a demonstration of its intent to further expand into the healthcare market. On Stand 354, SABIC introduces two new pharmaceutical grades of polypropylene (PP) intended for syringes, other medical dosing application devices and also for packaging for healthcare applications. The two grades, SABIC? PP PCGR40 and a lubricated variant, SABIC? PP PCGR40L, are high-flow random copolymers typically used for producing thin-walled products with high levels of clarity.  

The first grade, SABIC? PP PCGR40, is well suited to the production of three-piece syringes, in which an elastomeric seal on the plunger provides the required lubrication. For two-piece syringes the second grade, SABIC? PP PCGR40L, can be considered, since the lubrication is supplied by the plunger itself, providing a high level of dosing accuracy. The high levels of transparency of both grades are achieved by the inherent clarity of random PP copolymers plus the use of state-of-the-art clarifying technology. Together, they provide an extra level of patient safety, since it is very easy to see the levels of liquid in the syringe, and to ensure there are no bubbles. Both new grades are reactor grades, which results in significantly pure materials.  

Both new grades have a melt flow rate (MFR) of 40 g/min. This not only enables production of thin-walled medical devices and packaging, it also supports processors to reduce cycle times compared to grades with MFRs of between 30 and 35 g/min that are commonly used within the healthcare industry. This provides advantages for processors in terms of energy consumption, total conversion costs, and overall sustainability - an issue that is increasingly important for healthcare companies.

Moulding trials with the new grades were recently carried out on a high-precision 32-cavity Sch?ttli AG mold by the mouldmaker itself.