Application of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in medical device industry
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) materials are widely used in the medical device industry, mainly because of their good physical properties. PVC is also the most used material for disposable sterile medical devices. Affected by the new coronavirus epidemic, medical supplies are in short supply, and the upstream PVC market has also been affected to a certain extent.
The physical properties of polyvinyl chloride (pvc) materials include: the convenience of manufacturing pvc materials, and the good compatibility between these materials and intravenous (intravenous, iv) injections and blood. The pvc products commonly used in medical care all contain dihexyl phthalate (dehp) plasticizers. The function of dihexyl phthalate is to increase the elasticity of pvc products. dehp, as one of the most cost-effective and widely used plasticizers, its role is to make pvc soft and pliable.
Medical products made of plasticized polyvinyl chloride (plasticized pvc) were originally used to replace the use of natural rubber and glass in medical equipment. The reason for the substitution is that plasticized PVC-based materials are easier to sterilize, more transparent, and have better chemical stability and economical effectiveness. Plasticized polyvinyl chloride products are easy to use, and because of their softness and elasticity, they can avoid damage to the patient's sensitive tissue and avoid discomfort to the patient.
Plasticizers are added to pvc to improve the softness, cold resistance and light stability of pvc. The amount of plasticizer added is different for pvc products for different purposes. For example, the weight ratio of phthalates in pvc for food packaging is about 28%, and the weight ratio of flexible plastics for toys reaches 35% to 40%. Studies have shown that pvc containing phthalates is easily released when it encounters grease or in a high temperature environment above 100 °C. Due to the different perceptions of the harm of PVC containing phthalates, the scope and extent of its approval are different, so countries have different restrictions on the use of PVC containing phthalates.
