Improved Chemical Resistance with new polycarbonate materials
Selecting the right material to withstand aggressive disinfectants
Healthcare facilities are increasing their cleaning and decontamination measures to help protect patients and staff against Hospital Acquired Infections (HAIs) and other infectious threats. It’s important for medical device manufacturers to understand which disinfectants are most compatible with the materials used in the housings and hardware of their medical devices.
A broad portfolio of chemical resistance solutions
Covestro offers a range of materials for medical device housings and hardware. Our materials have excellent chemical resistance, superior rigidity, impact strength, and higher heat resistance than FR-ABS and FR-Copolyesters. Our portfolio — including Makroblend® M4000 FR, Makrolon® M325 FR, Makrolon® M525 FR, and new Makrolon® M6011 FR & Makroblend® M5005 FR — meets stringent UL V-0 requirements, while many other FR materials are only V-2 rated. Our newest grades feature next-generation flame retardant technology for enhanced performance and designed with awareness of evolving EU REACH and RoHS requirements for flame retardants.
The future of medical device design demands materials that don't just meet today's standards — they anticipate tomorrow's challenges. At Covestro, we're pioneering advanced polycarbonate solutions that redefine chemical resistance, durability, and design freedom for healthcare innovation.
Key Benefits
- Tough: Able to withstand high frequency use and cleaning.
- Flame Retardant: Provides flame retardancy to various UL94 flame class standards.
- Biocompatible: Special grades available for devices that have contact with intact skin.
- UV Resistant: Resistance to degradation due to environmental effects, such as sunlight.
- Sustainable Options: Select grades offer up to 82.5% bio-attributed content (mass-balance certified).
FAQs
Our materials are tested against common disinfectants following ASTM D543 (or ISO 22088-3), details please refer to our new Chemical Resistance brochure.
Environmental Stress Cracking (ESC), formally known as "Environmental Stress Crazing and Cracking", is a failure phenomenon in polymers where cracks and crazes form under the simultaneous action of mechanical stress and contact with a liquid or gaseous medium. Our new materials with proprietary know how are engineered to maintain structural integrity even under the combined stress of mechanical load and aggressive chemical exposure.
ISO 10993 is a globally recognized series of international standards used to evaluate medical devices’ biological safety. Covestro’s skin-contact materials fulfill the cytotoxicity requirements per ISO 10993-5 and the irritation and sensitization tests per ISO 10993-10 and ISO 10993-23.
Letters of Authorization for access to MAF or DMF and EU MDR compliance documents of Covestro’s medical grades are available upon request, so device manufacturers can reference those files in their submission for device registration.
Regulatory compliance documents of Covestro’s materials against REACH and RoHS are available upon request. Our material solutions help customers advance sustainability goals by offering options with 82.5% recycled content or bio-attributed feedstock (mass-balance certified). Circular take-back or end-of-life pathways may be available depending on region and grade – contact Covestro for details.
