Dow launches at MD&M West 2018 its most versatile Liquid Silicone Rubber grades to expand medical device design innovation

Dow Medical Solutions, a business unit of the DowDuPont Specialty Products Division, launched to the U.S. healthcare market two new Dow Corning QP1-33X0 Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) grades and new Dow Corning QP1-5040 Self-Adhesive LSR grade. Each is a low-temperature cure (LTC) technology.

These new additions to the company’s portfolio of LSR solutions support a broader range of rigid plastic substrates in overmolding applications and can enhance patients’ experiences, while delivering manufacturing and cost advantages. Dow Medical Solutions unveiled the new materials here at MD&M West 2018, in booth #2021, Hall D.

“Population aging is driving the need for greater affordability, usability and comfort in medical devices, and our innovative LSRs can make an important contribution to a wide range of applications,” said Marie Crane, medical materials market leader for Dow Medical Solutions. “Our ability to translate market insights into advanced technology is helping our customers and the industry as a whole, create new, targeted products that positively impact patients’ lives, and help ensure business success.”

New-generation elastomers

Medical device manufacturers continually face increased pressure to produce innovative, functional products to successfully navigate the $390+ billion1 industry. These device makers spend about seven percent of their revenue2 on research and development. This significant investment demands the high-performance and benefits that materials such as Dow’s newly announced LSR products can provide.
New Dow Corning QP1-33X0 Liquid Silicone Rubber grades deliver breakthrough low-temperature cure properties, making it feasible to use them with heat-sensitive substrates such as copolyesters. These new LSR grades give medical device designers expanded material options. At the same time, they also allow fast injection speeds whilst maintaining low injection pressure.

Dow Corning QP1-5040 Self-Adhesive Liquid Silicone Rubber provides strong, durable, primerless adhesion to copolyester, as well as a low-temperature cure that aligns with the processing requirements of this heat-sensitive substrate. It allows device designers to take advantage of copolyester’s exceptional resistance to harsh chemicals found in cleaners, disinfectants and treatment solutions. Dow Corning QP1-5040 LSR also allows reasonable molding cycle times and is suitable for two-components and insert molding.

Dow Corning QP1-33X0 Liquid Silicone Rubber grades and Dow Corning QP1-5040 Self-Adhesive Liquid Silicone Rubber also offer improved rheology – an advantage over traditional materials – which helps to optimize processing.

Dow commercial and technical experts are available at the company’s booth for the duration of MD&M West 2018 to discuss these new innovations and the company’s full product offering, including high consistency rubbers and silicone adhesives, as well as provide insight on overarching trends in the medical industry.

Dow Medical Solutions
www.dowcorning.com/healthcare