Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) is considered to be a functionally inert material. It has gained favor within the medical device industry for this amongst other advantageous properties. Standard thermoplastics, thermoplastic elastomers, and related materials undergo ageing processes and tend to have susceptibilities based on fluid chemistry. LSR avoids many of these pitfalls. With all of this in mind, regulatory submissions for medical devices are not devoid of challenges related to LSR. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are present in all materials including LSR. The balance between processing, performance, and economics is a delicate mix. VOCs are not visible to the eye. The effect of subtle process changes can create large VOC shifts that can cause regulatory hurdles. This talk introduces the delicate balance of material-process-testing LSR for VOCs.
SPEAKER: Matthew Heidecker, Ph.D., Vice President, Plastic Services Network