Demand for Medical Grade Plastics Driven by Light-weighting Efforts

The global medical plastics industry has registered an exorbitant growth due to development of advanced grade plastics. Replacement of conventional materials such as steel, aluminum, and metals by advanced plastics is expected to translate into the growth of the medical plastics.

The major replacement for the medical grade plastics in the healthcare industry has been observed in the following components:

Medical polymers are regulated by numerous agencies across the globe. In Europe, medical devices fall under the EU Council Directive (93/42/EEC), which provides guidance for their consumption. The industry is heavily guarded and regulated due to the highly critical nature of their usage. Some of the regulations are listed as below:


Despite being a highly regulated industry, there has been an increasing demand for medical grade plastics.

Let's take a look at the advanced medical grade plastics that are replacing the convention materials in the industry today!

New & Advanced Grade Plastics - The Way Forward for the Companies

The global medical plastics market is subject to multiple technological advancements pertaining to the production of advanced plastics for use in the healthcare industry. The companies in the market resort to new product developments as one of the major strategies to achieve market growth. Some of the major new product introduction for the medical grade plastics has been summarized as follows:

 − In May 2018, SABIC launched glass reinforced polycarbonate materials under the trade name THERMOCOMP™ HMD-D, that can efficiently replace metal components in the healthcare industry. The product is expected to be used increasingly for the production of various components of the equipment used in the healthcare industry.

 − In April 2018, BASF SE announced the introduction of Ellastollan® TPU, advanced grade thermoplastic polyurethane used for the manufacture of components of medical devices. The product offers high mechanical strength and flexibility, which is expected to drive demand.

 − In April 2018, Teknor Apex Company launched a range of advanced grade thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) for use primarily in the production of plunger stoppers in syringes with an aim to increase the market share through enhanced syringe function through a uniform travel force due to a low coefficient of friction.

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 − Covestro launched a superior grade polycarbonate material under the brand name Makrolon® Rx3440, for use primarily in luers and intravenous connectors. The product is said to offer superior durability and chemical resistance to the solvents used in drug deliveries.

 − In February 2018, Eastman Chemicals launched disinfectant ready co-polyester marketed under the trade name MXF221 which can be used for the production of medical components such as syringes, minimally invasive surgical instruments, non-implantable devices, blood contact instruments, IV components, etc. The wide application scope of the materials is expected to result in a high product demand leading to the increase in the revenue of the company.

 − In January 2018, Kraiburg TPE introduced a new range of THERMOLAST® M TPE compounds that provide superior biocompatibility and have been used for the manufacture of products such as Ophthalmic Squeeze Dispenser (OSD) manufactured by Aptar Pharma.

 − In December 2017, Solvay announced a new range of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) products marketed under the name Zeniva® ZA-600 CF30. The product is expected to find a high demand for the production of implantable devices.

 − In October 2017, Solvay launched a range of medical grade specialty polymers including engineered plastics such as PEEK and polysulfone, with the materials exhibiting superior compatibility with gamma irradiation for the sterilization process.

 − In May 2017, Colorite (Tekni-Plex) launched a range of TPE compounds as an alternative to rubber compounds. The product finds high application scope in the production of medical devices.

 » Continue reading to learn the factors driving the growth of medical plastics market!