Abstract
PEBAX (Polyether Block Amide) is essentially a copolymer that offers the most comprehensive range of advantages among the several thermoplastic elastometers (TPE) that are available today. TPE is popular by the trade names of Vestamid E and Pebax as they are manufactured by two companies namely Evonik Industries and Arkema respectively. There are a number of favorable properties that Pebax use and because of such properties, it is currently being extensively used in a plethora of applications like industrial and medical as well. . Remarkable elastomeric properties, a wide range of service temperature, and in several cases, exceptionally great resistance to chemical and thermal aging has helped TPEs in replacing several of their former chemically cross-linked stuff available in the market, in a wide range of commercial applications and often has helped in the creation of totally new products. Likewise, graphene is another recent discovery that is being extensively used in medical applications. This paper presents a rather comprehensive information about both the above materials.
PEBAX (Polyether Block Amide) 7233
PEBAX (Polyether Block Amide) is essentially a copolymer that offers the most comprehensive range of advantages among the several thermoplastic elastometers (TPE) that are available today. TPE is popular by the trade names of Vestamid E and Pebax as they are manufactured by two companies namely Evonik Industries and Arkema respectively.
Pebax is essentially a block copolymer, which is generated through the process of poly-condensation of carboxylic acid as well as polyamide by the use of termination polyether that is alcoholic in nature. The typical chemical structure is as follows:
“HO - (CO - PA - CO - O - PE - O)n – H”
The thermodynamic incompatibility between the two block polymers generally results in a micro phase disconnected morphology. In addition, at normal service temperatures, each individual block acts as the hard phase while the other acts in the form of a soft phase. Also, even when the temperature rises a little high, the hard block becomes soft or even melts completely, eventually helping the TPEs to be processed in the form of thermoplastics.
As a result of their innate flexibility that is bestowed upon them through their chemistry, molecular weight – either block or segment, the comparative degrees of the hard and soft blocks, the properties of these thermoplastics can be customized to meet the requirements of an exhaustive range of application. Remarkable elastomeric properties, a wide range of service temperature, and in several cases, exceptionally great resistance to chemical and thermal aging has helped TPEs in replacing several of their former chemically cross-linked stuff available in the market, in a wide range of commercial applications and often has helped in the creation of totally new products.
Uses of Pebax in Medical applications
Plastics basically are part of the larger family known as polymers and they are also the most basic ingredients that constitute both human as well as plant life on earth. Among the number of advantages that plastics offer are their low density levels, transparency, light in terms of weight, high degree of resistance to color as well as corrosion, are a few. The application of plastics is rather exhaustive ranging from domestic appliances to medical equipment. Medical syringes, catheters, and a wide range of medical equipment are made using thermoplastic Pebax.
The Medical equipment made out of Pebax is generally free from plasticizer and are a high performance thermoplastic elastomers which provide astounding processing ease. The Pebax product range varies from the soft and flexible products like elastomers, to those products that have mechanical properties similar to polyamides. This exhaustive range of physical and mechanical properties, obtained by altering the monomeric block types and their ratios, make Pebax MED an optimal choice for extrusion of medical grade tubing applications or even the film applications.
Melting of Pebax
The injection molding process comprises of the fast-paced pressure filling of a distinct mold fissure using molten material, which is ensued by the process of solidification of the material into the final product. This is process that is followed for molding “thermoplastics, thermosetting resins, and rubbers, etc. Injection molding of thermoplastics can be classified into a several stages. At the plasticity stage, the feed unit operates as an extruder, melting and homogenizing the material in the screw/barrel system.” The screw, yet, is left to be pulled in further, in order to make a basin for the accumulation of the molten materials. At the phase of injection, the screw works like a ram, which essentially shifts the molten material very quickly from the reservoir to the hollow space present between the two halves of the closed frame.
Graphene Non-composites
Graphene, which is a wide array of chemical, optical, electrical as well as mechanical properties, is being regarded as the wonder material that is currently available for use in medical applications. Graphene essentially constitutes carbon, which is actually fused in a hexagonal honeycomb form, and the thickness of the layer of this structure is similar to the thickness of just a single atom.
Graphene was discovered by two professors of the Manchester University, UK, who eventually also were bestowed the Noble Prize in the year 2010 for Physics. As per the market reports of the year 2014, the global market of graphene is believed to have reported reached $9 billion and the same is expected to further boost till approximately about $100 billion because of graphene swiftly substituting silicon in a wide range of electrical applications.
Apart from being of immense utility in the field of electronics, Graphene has also been identified of being useful in a wide range of medical applications as well. This is primarily because of its unique and distinctive characteristics like for example; a “two-dimensional planar structure, a large surface area, good biocompatibility and good chemical stability.”
Graphene in Medicine
There are a number of ways in which Graphene can be helpful in the medical field. A few such usages of Graphene in the field of healthcare and medicine are, treatment of Cancer, use in Birth Control, treatment of Neurological ailments, and lastly genetic ailments among a plethora of other uses in the healthcare and medical applications.
According to recent studies, functionalized nano-sized graphene are highly useful and serve as a drug carrier for the in-vitro intracellular delivery of the anticancer chemotherapy drugs. Until now, “nano-graphene with a biocompatible polyethylene glycol (PEG) coating has been used in effective ablation of tumors in mouse models.” It is also widely regarded that the technology of the nanotechnology is highly helpful for delivering genetic information to selected points in the human brain, specifically for those patients who suffer from neuro-degenerative ailments.
The highly sophisticated medical devices that are expected to evolve can be created with the use of a layered graphene casing. The external layer of the graphene is highly transparent in nature, while it is also antibacterial. With its antibacterial properties, the outer layer minimizes the danger of cross infection as it creates an antagonistic environment which terminates the walls of bacteria. There is also a possibility of light getting passed through this particular outer layer and further progress to the subsequent layer: For the battery to be recharged, a power producing lamination is provided beneath the light that surrounds.
Graphene also has the capacity of storing energy, as the finishing layer serves as a battery as it accumulates all the energy in the form of a superconductor and gives it out only when required or when sought. In order to increase the firmness to this thin layered covering, tubes made from carbon are utilized in the form of pillars, which essentially cross the central cavity and making the equipment almost unbreakable. Because of graphene possessing magnetic properties, it is also used in applications of the microphones and speakers that can be made into the case for enhancing the ultimate user interface.
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