Clear, High-Flow Polycarbonate From Bayer Provides Fast Color Recovery, Property Retention In Medical Devices

LAS VEGAS, April 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- No one disputes that supply chains are fast today and the healthcare sector is no exception. To help handle the increasing number of patients visiting doctors or clinics, healthcare providers have decreased the lead time between sterilization and use in the clinic.

While the color-recovery of typical polycarbonates after radiation-sterilization has historically taken several days, the color recovery process is greatly slowed when devices are packaged in oxygen-free pouches.

"The challenge was to come up with a polycarbonate resin that would meet the high productivity requirements for both manufacturing and sterilization," said Bruce Fine, Medical Market Segment Leader for North America. "Customers didn't just need high flow, but also faster color recovery when irradiated in oxygen-free packaging."

With this in mind, Bayer MaterialScience LLC has developed a clear, high-flow Makrolon^® Rx2440 polycarbonate that offers a faster recovery time in color shift. The medical-grade polycarbonate may be sterilized with high-energy radiation (gamma or e-beam) and ETO, and is often used in applications requiring biocompatibility that meets ISO 10993-1 and USP Class VI. 

Pierre Moulinie, Global Technology Lead for Polycarbonate Consumer and Medical Applications, Bayer MaterialScience LLC, will present "Radiation-sterilization of new medical resins in oxygen-free packaging" at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 30 during the Society of Plastics Engineers ANTEC conference held April 28-30 in Las Vegas. He will discuss the faster color-recovery and property retention of Makrolon Rx2440 polycarbonate when sterilized by radiation in oxygen-free packaging compared with other polycarbonate resins.

"With its outstanding combination of rigidity, toughness, high flow and unique and fast color-recovery after irradiation, Makrolon Rx2440 polycarbonate provides a solution for increasingly rapid medical supply chains," Moulinié said.

About Bayer MaterialScience LLC:
Bayer MaterialScience LLC is one of the leading producers of high-performance plastics in North America and is part of the global Bayer MaterialScience business with approximately 14,300 employees at 30 production sites around the world and 2013 sales of 11.2 billion euros. Bayer MaterialScience, a Bayer Group company, manufactures high-tech polymer materials and develops innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, electrical and electronics, construction, medical, and sports and leisure industries. Sustainability is central to Bayer MaterialScience LLC's business and is based around the key areas of innovation, product stewardship, social responsibility and respect for the environment.

For more information about Bayer MaterialScience LLC's materials and technologies, call 1-800-662-2927, email [email protected] or visit www.plastics.bayer.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer's public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

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SOURCE Bayer MaterialScience LLC