11/07/11 MicroCare Medical Introduces New Grade of Swellex™

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. – MicroCare Medical, a division of MicroCare Corporation that supplies advanced cleaners, carrier fluids, coatings and lubricants to medical device designers, engineers and manufacturers, has announced the launch of Swellex™-P polyurethane swelling agent.

Swellex™-P polyurethane swelling agent is a swelling agent that is absorbed into the polyurethane, expanding it to a desired dimension, which then allows easy assembly to the fitting or rigid part. The Swellex™-P polyurethane swelling agent then quickly evaporates, returning the polyurethane component to its original size to create a secure connection without adhesives. This new capability agent to swell polyurethane addresses the challenge that design engineers face in working with polyurethane tubing on assemblies applications.

“Polyurethane is becoming a more desirable material in the medical device industry as a replacement for PVC, especially in tubing applications for moving fluids” said Thomas Tattersall, executive vice president of MicroCare Medical.  “However, the physical properties of polyurethane can make it a challenge to work with. Our Swellex™-P polyurethane swelling agent provides an effective and overall low cost solution to that challenge.”

Polyurethane typically has high tensile strength and does not readily expand without mechanical help, and because of this, design engineers often find difficulty in attaching polyurethane tubing with barbed fittings. For designers, knowing that there is an effective solution to joining polyurethane to rigid parts means they can be more flexible in their specifications and can design without limitations.

Swelling polyurethane is a cost-effective option because the entire process is extremely quick and involves almost no “housekeeping.” Other methods, like using oils or alcohol to lubricate the polyurethane, take much longer because of the time necessary for these lubricants to dry. These methods also tend to be very messy, requiring clean up once the part has been joined, which also adds more time to the entire process.

The Swellex™-P polyurethane swelling agent that MicroCare Medical provides is a newer class of solvent that utilizes proprietary solvent technology that swells polyurethane more effectively than alternative solvents, and meet today’s strict Environmental Protection Agency regulations.
“Historically, solvents are not used to swell polyurethane because of its resistance to solvents.” said Jay Tourigny, senior vice president for MicroCare Medical. “We are very proud to be able to offer a solution that is engineered to work specifically with polyurethane-based compounds.”

To learn more about MicroCare Medical, including the Swellex™-P polyurethane swelling agent, visit the MicroCare Medical Web site at http://www.microcaremedical.com.

About MicroCare Medical
MicroCare Medical is a division of MicroCare Corporation, and is an ISO 9001-2004 registered organization dedicated to the medical device industry and built on a 26-year legacy of chemical engineering excellence. As a supplier of advanced cleaners, carrier additives, coatings and lubricants to medical device designers and manufacturers throughout North America and Western Europe, Microcare Medical distinguishes itself as the most responsive supplier for medical device designers and manufacturers. Learn more about the 48-hour sample turn-around policy at http://www.microcaremedical.com.

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Swellex™ and DuraGlide® are either trademarks or registered trademarks of MicroCare Corporation.

Media Coverage:
Medical Design Technology
Product Design and Development