Since their first appearance in the market, thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) have mainly been utilized in injection molding and have experienced some difficulties gaining ground in the extrusion world, as this has traditionally been dominated by vulcanized rubber on the one hand and plasticized PVC on the other. However, in recent years there has been a strong tendency to reconsider TPEs as suitable candidates for a number of extrusion applications – a trend favored mainly in the fields of drinking water and medicine as a result of more stringent hygienic requirements. In the medical field, the dominant position of plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC) as a raw material for the production of medical devices stands as a clear reference to all market newcomers like TPE, which must conform to many common processing techniques applicable to PVC (e.g. solvent-bonding) or enable new applications and/or new alternative processes to be created in order to carve out their own market space. With regard to drinking water contact, the most common rubbery materials used for sealing and flexible pipes are vulcanized rubbers; in this field as well, TPEs need to challenge established market preferences or create new ones. 1 Introduction Francesco Franceschetti Elastomeri (FFE) as a leading producer of TPE compounds certified for food contact and medical use is committed to developing and producing new TPE solutions for strongly-regulated applications and for both present and future challenges. The company’s most recent developments have been focused on extrusion grades for many applications in the medical field, for drinking water and other relevant industrial applications. Our current projects are dedicated first and foremost to Marfran TPEs for drinking water applications and to Marfran.Med medical compounds, with a particularly strong focus on solvent-bonding products (an innovative solution for a TPE that until only recently could not be bonded with a solvent). We are also working to find new solutions for caps and closures that comply with food contact regulations. By working closely with our raw material suppliers and investing in new process technologies, FFE uses the latest innovations to identify new material combinations and develop new possibilities. 2 Extrusion TPEs for medical applications In recent months, we have seen an interest in substituting PVC tubing: thermoplastic elastomers can be a new opportunity, not only an alternative. TPEs, however, have not been easy to bond to other substrates such as the polycarbonate (PC) or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) connectors that are widely used in standard intravenous tubing sets. Good bonding characteristics can now be achieved through the use of two new compound families, Marfran.Med GL and Marfran.Med GLE. These products are transparent, bondable with cyclohexanone and THF medical compounds for both injection molding (GL series) and extrusion (GLE series). As opposed to adhesives, processing with solvents leaves no chemical residue, as the solvents used evaporate completely to create a clean bond. The GLE series has been specially developed for tube extrusion and can be assem-bled by means of solvent bonding with the new GL grade suitable for injection molding. The new products Marfran.Med GLE and GL therefore also work in synergy to replace PVC without altering any established production processes. With the new compound families, FFE can offer the market a complete TPE solution for manufacturing infusion sets: from the extrusion of transparent and anti-kinking tubes which can be glued easily with cyclohexanone, THF, or other solvents to the drip chamber produced with injection molding grades. In addition to the new solvent-bondable grades, the TPE portfolio of FFE also includes many medical extrusion grades suitable for a wide range of applications such as tubing for peristaltic pumps, urinary catheters, surgery catheters and respiratory-aid devices. 2.2 Antimicrobial properties Marfran.Med grades can be modified in order to be antimicrobial, preventing microbes from growing on the surfaces of final products. To recommend the best product solution, however, FFE recommends to clarify first the parameters and requirements of processing – e.g. to ensure that heat will not damage the antimicrobial substance chosen. Marfran.Med Au is a patented compound that contains usnic acid, a naturally antibiotic derivative found in several lichen species The compound possesses a wide range of interesting biological properties and is a potent antibiotic, effective against Gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus, Streptococcus and Pneumococcus. It also works against other types of bacteria such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and some pathogenic fungi. Marfran.Med Au was proven to be effective in its antimicrobial performance, especially against Gram-positive bacteria (99.9 % effective) following ASTM E2180-07 test. For all the Marfran.Med grades, FFE offers the security of fixed formulations, raw materials and suppliers. FFE’s variation management calls for special notification of change and a safety stock which are of further assurance to customers. Source：TPE Magazine