SABIC Innovative Plastics’ tough Ultem HU1004 resin validated as top material of choice for multiple sterilization capabilities vs. PPSU.SABIC Innovative Plastics today announced third-party test results that validate the multiple sterilization capabilities of its remarkably tough Ultem HU1004 polyetherimide (PEI) resin. This high-performance resin – previously utilized for other techniques and now tested for use with the Sterrad NX low-temperature hydrogen peroxide gas plasma sterilization – gives healthcare providers the flexibility to choose any major method for sterilizing trays, electronic medical devices and other applications. The data revealed that Ultem HU1004 resin has significant performance and aesthetic advantages – in particular, ductility and color stability – over competitive materials such as polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) that are used for Sterrad NX sterilization. Ultem HU1004 resin’s validation underscores SABIC Innovative Plastics’ commitment to providing its healthcare customers with the highest quality materials to meet their needs for process simplification and performance.
“SABIC Innovative Plastics healthcare materials undergo rigorous performance testing in the development of new, high-end applications,” said Tom O’Brien, marketing director, Healthcare, SABIC Innovative Plastics. “And based on independent lab testing, Ultem HU1004 resin meets critical industry sterilization demands, including higher-temperature autoclaving, ethylene oxide, and gamma radiation for enhanced safety, and low-temperature sterilization processes to protect delicate electronic devices. Ultem HU1004 resin is fast becoming a leading choice among global OEMs for an expanding range of applications because it delivers stable performance and excellent aesthetics regardless of the sterilization method used.”
Ultem resins have a long and distinguished legacy in the healthcare industry, where they have demonstrated strength, stability, chemical resistance and dependable performance in applications such as surgical devices (tissue stabilizers, skin staplers and laparoscopic device handles), medical equipment including anesthesia machines and orthopedic devices.
To validate the mechanical properties and degree of color shift for Ultem HU1004 resin after exposure to the Sterrad NX method, SABIC Innovative Plastics commissioned SPS Medical, an independent testing lab located in Rush, New York. SPS exposed samples of Ultem resin and PPSU to Sterrad NX sterilization in increments of 50 cycles up to 300; these samples were then evaluated by SABIC Innovative Plastics’ technical experts.
The findings demonstrate that Ultem HU1004 resin provides superior color stability vs. PPSU. In fact, PPSU showed a color shift up to 10 times greater than Ultem HU1004 resin, becoming significantly yellowed after only 100 Sterrad NX cycles. Ultem resin also delivered superior mechanical properties, including retention of mass and impact performance, compared to PPSU.
