General Elelctric (GE) has developed two new platinum-cure rubbers that should aid the medical sector.

The company says that when used as tubing, the new silicones not only help reduce medical errors, but can also provide savings due to lower manufacturing costs and longer life.

Its new Tufel III platinum-cure silicone elastomer is used in peristaltic pumps and provides high resilience and elastic memory, as well as improved flow accuracy.

The tubing is also used in drug manufacture. It is hoped the new platinum-cure tubing will help reach better precision in the production process.

"Peristaltic pumps that deliver critical medication and nutrition to patients require high-performance tubing that can withstand repeated compression without deforming," said Eric Luftig, global healthcare marketing manager at GE Silicones.

"Tubing made from highly resilient Tufel III silicone rubber not only helps provide precise delivery of fluids and drugs, but can also last up to twice as long as competitive materials, resulting in cost savings."

GE has also developed Tufel I silicone rubber, a ready-to-use product that may lower manufacturing costs by up to ten percent.

The material offers fast cure rates at elevated extrusion oven temperatures and has a long mixed shelf life of up to three months at room temperature.

Typical applications include for the rubber are pharmaceutical tubing, fluid transfer tubing, gaskets and seals.

Platinum cured materials increase productivity, the rapid reaction of the platinum catalyst means parts can be cured in a faster time.

Ÿ Adfero Ltd