Stabilized & Specialty Polymers

Foster utilizes a wide variety of specialty additives to enhance specific properties of biomedical polymers. These specialty solutions are custom formulated to meet the unique demands of complex medical devices.

Foster Specialty Polymer Compounds

Specialty Additives

LoPro® – Foster LoPro® Radiopaque Compounds include a wide range of advanced radiopaque fillers and polymers to create high quality compounds that are visible on x-ray or fluoroscopy.  For more information on the LoPro® Radiopaque product line see Radiopaque Compounds.

ProPell™ – Foster ProPell Low Friction Compounds incorporate proprietary surface enhancing additives into a wide range of medical grade polymers to reduce inherently high coefficient of friction, while retaining desired mechanical properties. For more information on Foster ProPell Low Friction Compounds or other lubricious solutions see Lubricious Compounds

PureEase™ – Foster PureEase™ is a range of modified TPU polymers, specifically designed to address common processing concerns and improve consistency and production yields. PureEase™ formulations incorporate very low loadings of processing enhancements into TPU polymers for operational improvements, while maintaining desired mechanical properties. Foster PureEase™ is ideally suited for tube extrusion applications where processing stability and control of ID/OD tolerances are critical.

LazerMed™  – LazerMed™ is a polymer technology that provides a high resolution, permanent and eco-friendly alternative to solvent based printing for medical device applications.  LazerMed™ is manufactured using Merck EMD (Darmstadt, Germany) Iriotec™ “state-of-the-art” laser marking pigments to provide a versatile printing platform that can be used in the vast majority of plastic materials.

Nanomed® – Nanomed® compounds are custom formulated to improve structural performance of medical polymers, by incorporating low loadings of clay fillers into the polymer matrix, creating a reinforcing effect. Structural reinforcement is ideal for medical devices and catheters that require a high degree of physician control.

HLS™ – Foster Heat & Light Stabilized Compounds (HLS™) is an stabilizer system that is added at the compounding level to help maintain the integrity of a base resin and extend polymer
shelf life. HLS™ stabilizes polymers by minimizing unanticipated changes in chemistry, molecular weight and color, with exposure to environmental stress agents, such as oxygen, moisture, heat and light.

Fostalink® – Foster offers specialty formulations that process as thermoplastics and are cross-linked post-processing to improve temperature, tensile and durability properties for applications such as heat shrink tubing.

Combat  – Combat™ is a line of silver-based antimicrobial masterbatches specifically designed to prevent biofilm colonization on medical devices and instruments. For more information see Antimicrobial Formulations.

Hydrophillic Polymers– Hydrophillic additives enhance moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) of base polymers to increase breathability

Antioxidants – Antioxidants preserve the chemical and mechanical properties of medical polymers, extending shelf life

Processing Aids – A selection of specialty enhancements to improve dispersion and overall quality of compounded and extruded polymers

Others– Medical polymers can also incorporate additives such as conductive, anti-blocks, minerals, magnetic, among others

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