WACKER Unveils Variable-Hardness Silicone Rubber for the Orthopedics Industry
Munich – WACKER, the Munich-based chemical group, will be unveiling a new silicone rubber of variable hardness for orthopedic and prosthetic applications at this year's MEDTEC Europe. SILPURAN® 2410 A/B, an addition curing silicone, can be made harder or softer in the lower Shore A range by varying the mixing ratio of its two components. This gives manufacturers the flexibility to regulate the hardness of the elastomer during processing. SILPURAN® 2410 A/B lends itself to soft and elastic orthopedic products, such as shoe insoles, heel cushions and truss pads. MEDTEC Europe will be held in Stuttgart from February 26 – 28, 2013.
SILPURAN®
2410 consists of two components, A and B, which are usually mixed in a 1:1 ratio. That ratio yields a silicone elastomer with a Shore 00 hardness value of 50 (as per ASTM 2240, Type 00). However, the hardness of the elastomer can be varied within certain limits by changing the mixing ratio. Thus, a higher proportion of component B will yield a harder elastomer overall, while a higher proportion of component A will produce a softer elastomer.
This flexibility particularly benefits manufacturers of small runs. Whereas they would previously have needed to stock many different grades of silicone if they wanted to make products of different hardness, they now have in SILPURAN® 2410 A/B a product whose hardness can be flexibly adjusted to suit the intended application. Thus, a single silicone raw material is now capable of satisfying different specifications. Not only is this highly efficient, but it also saves money by cutting down on the number of different silicone raw materials that need to be stocked.
What is more, all SILPURAN® 2410 A/B elastomers can be freely combined and processed with each other. This also applies to elastomers of different Shore hardness values. Consequently, orthopedic products that are harder on the front than on the back (and vice versa) can be built up by casting in layers, for example.
SILPURAN® 2410 A/B has a low viscosity and is pourable, which is ideal for manual and semi-automated processes. Crosslinking occurs rapidly at elevated temperatures, and no byproducts are released. SILPURAN® 2410 A/B cures to a highly elastic, translucent elastomer. It is breathable and compatible with the skin. It possesses good damping properties and exerts a soft and gentle compressive effect. Candidate applications range from shoe insoles and heel cushions to truss pads, orthotic devices and liners for prostheses.
Like all products in the SILPURAN® series, SILPURAN® 2410 A/B is free of organic plasticizers and stabilizers, and has passed selected tests for biocompatibility according to ISO 10993 and US Pharmacopeia Class VI. The product is manufactured according to WACKER's own Clean Operations standard and is filled and packaged in cleanroom conditions.
Visit WACKER at MEDTEC Europe 2013, Hall 1, Booth I02.
Munich-based chemical group WACKER is unveiling SILPURAN® 2410 A/B silicone rubber at MEDTEC Europe. The hardness of the silicone can be varied by altering the relative mixing proportions of the two components A and B. Benefits for manufacturers of orthopedic and prosthetic devices include greater versatility and lower production costs.
For further information, please contact:
Wacker Chemie AG
Media Relations Information
Florian Degenhart
Tel. +49 89 6279-1601
Fax +49 89 6279-2877
florian.degenhart@wacker.com
The company in brief:
WACKER is a globally-active chemical company with some 17,200 employees and annual sales of around Euros4.91 billion (2011). WACKER has a global network of 24 production sites, 19 technical competence centers and 53 sales offices.
WACKER SILICONES
Silicone fluids, emulsions, rubber and resins; silanes; pyrogenic silicas; thermoplastic silicone elastomers
WACKER POLYMERS
Polyvinyl acetates and vinyl acetate copolymers in the form of dispersible polymer powders, dispersions, solid resins and solutions used as binders for construction chemicals, paints and coatings, adhesives, plasters, textiles and nonwovens, as well as for polymeric materials based on renewable resources
WACKER BIOSOLUTIONS
Biotech products such as cyclodextrins, cysteine and biologics, as well as fine chemicals and PVAc solid resins
WACKER POLYSILICON
Polysilicon for the semiconductor and photovoltaic industries Siltronic Hyperpure silicon wafers and monocrystals for semiconductor components.
PRESS RELEASE
Wacker Chemie AG
Hanns-Seidel-Platz 4
81737 München, Germany
www.wacker.com
Number 6
MEDTEC EUROPE 2013
