Three new grades have been added to the medical thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) product line of Bayer MaterialScience LLC, Pittsburgh.

Texin RxT70A TPU is a plasticizer-free resin with good hydrolysis, low temperature flexibility, and high moisture vapor transmission rates. Typical medical applications include catheters and catheter balloons, specialty tubing and profiles. It can also be used for gaskets and soft overmolding applications, such as grips. Like other medical grades in the line, it exhibits a balance of flexibility, strength, and toughness.

In addition to Texin RxT70A TPU, Bayer also introduced two hard, high-modulus grades of Texin TPU.

Texin RxHM125 is a clear TPU with a Rockwell hardness of 125 (87 Shore D) – the hardest of the new grades – and a flexural modulus of 330,000 PSI. It is clear with a slight amber hue that can be tinted to provide a custom-color clear tint.

Texin RxSTX120 is an opaque, high-performing TPU with even greater impact properties. This grade has a cream to ivory natural look and can be easily colored.

Both of these high-modulus TPU grades offer excellent heat and chemical resistance, low moisture absorption, low mold shrinkage, a low coefficient of thermal expansion, and good abrasion resistance. These grades are medical connectors, clips, luers, equipment housings, stopcocks and fittings.