ALPHARETTA, Ga., December 12, 2012 – Color-coded ColorGrip® gaskets from Integra Companies, Devens, Mass., feature colored locator rings made of Radel® polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) resin from Solvay Specialty Polymers USA, LLC, for high-purity fluid handling applications for the biopharmaceutical industry. The locator rings made of Radel® PPSU are more chemically resistant and offer better sterilization than those made of competing plastics while also boasting colorability and extended service life.
The injection molded locator rings solve common installation problems by aligning the gasket, which is made of EPDM elastomer, on the ferrule face. The grip design also improves installation by freeing up the hands for assembling the clamp. The Radel® PPSU locator ring is available in eight color options to provide external identification. Color coding can be easily used to segregate process fluids, identify essential processes, or to simplify preventative maintenance replacements. Cavallero Plastics, Pittsfield, Mass., molds the outer ring made of Radel® PPSU and the U.K.’s James Walker & Co. Ltd., developer of Elast-O-Pure® EP75 EPDM elastomer, injection molds the gasket onto the outer ring.
Radel® PPSU was selected because of its superior strength, high thermal performance, chemical resistance, and strong sterilizability, according to Dwight Long, president of Integra Companies. Meanwhile, the Elast-O-Pure® EP75 EPDM elastomer provides unparalleled sealing performance in critical bioprocessing applications, improved compression set, strong release properties, and excellent resistance to Steam in Place (SIP) processes and Clean in Place (CIP) chemicals, resulting in extended service life.
Radel® PPSU is a super-tough thermoplastic with high heat resistance, exceptional hydrolytic stability, and excellent chemical resistance. It can withstand over 1000 cycles of steam sterilization without significant loss of properties. It is inherently flame retardant and is resistant to bases and other chemicals. Radel® PPSU is also compliant with ISO 10993-1 for limited exposure applications. The color-coded smooth transition gaskets are used for a range of tubing, fittings, and hoses in high-purity fluid handling applications for the bioprocessing industry.
Solvay Specialty Polymers is a global leader in the development of sulfone polymer technology, launching Udel® polysulfone nearly 45 years ago. In addition, Solvay’s experience as a key materials supplier in the healthcare field spans more than 20 years. The company is a leading manufacturer of high-performance plastics, offering a broad range of materials for healthcare instruments and medical devices. More recently, Solvay has successfully introduced its line of Solviva® Biomaterials and offers them for use in a range of implantable devices
