Issue 12/2017 - Structural foams replace metal parts for medical devices

Structural foam materials replace metal parts of medical devices

SABIC has partnered with Shanghai Shengguang to successfully replace metal parts
in large medical devices with SABIC's NORYLTM and LEXANTM structural foaming solutions.
The collaboration between the two companies proves that SABIC's structural foaming technology enables greater design freedom than metal materials and can reduce weight
by up to 50%.
Compared to metals, this solution reduces routine secondary operations such as machining and acid treatment before painting, resulting in system cost
savings of up to 30%.

SABIC's NORYL and LEXAN structural foams are not only ideal alternatives to metals, but also to meet the needs
of medical device manufacturers by pushing the performance, aesthetics and design limitations of traditional injection molding resins.
The use of structural foam materials to manufacture parts for large medical devices, such as imaging and anesthesia devices, can effectively reduce the flow performance of the material, avoiding unsightly shrinkage marks and warping
.

NORYL structural foam material is a non-halogenated flame retardant material with lower density, better flowability and chemical resistance than LEXAN material
.
Thanks to its low creep and low water absorption, it achieves better dimensional stability
.
LEXAN materials, on the other hand, have higher heat resistance and impact strength than NORYL materials, and meet UL-94 V0 flame retardant standards
at lower thicknesses.

Both materials meet the requirements of different components and can also be used simultaneously to replace metals
as much as possible.
For example, NORYL structural foams with low density and high dimensional stability can be used for machine covers and housings, while the excellent durability of LEXAN materials makes them suitable for applications
such as machine foundations and structural supports.