Applications
Surgery benefits
from glass-filled
polycarbonate
Glass-filled Calibre T M polycar-
bonate from Dow Plastics has
been used by US medical
device manufacturer Ethicon
Endo-Surgery to produce a
device for surgeons called the
SutureAssistant.
The device permits a less inva-
sire procedure for the surgical
technique of suturing.
The material was selected for
the trigger and handle of the
SutureAssistant due to its rigid-
ity, strength and dimensional
stability, resistance to gamma
sterilization and good flow
characteristics.
Dow Plastics says that the
device was designed for ease of
use as well as to provide sur-
geons with opportunities to
work with different needle
.types and the ability to use
multiple suture sizes. Surgeons
from a number of specialities,
including cardiovascular,
orthopaedics and gynaecology,
have shown interest in the
SutureAssistant.
Agricultural films benefit from HALS
Hindered amine light stabiliz-
ers (HALS) from Clariant are
being used for agricultural
films where a combination of
UV stabilization and high
chemical resistance is
required.
Sanduvor HALS UV stabilizers
act as an UV absorber in the
early stages of stabilization.
The absorbed energy is used to
bind chemically the molecule
to the polymer matrix, which
results in a nonextractable
additive.
News
Laser sensitive co/our concentrate
makes animal identification possible
Ear tags for animals is one of
the potential application areas
for FastMARKT M , a range of
new laser sensitive colour con-
centrates from Wilson Color,
the colour and additive con-
centrates business unit of
M.A. Hanna. Laser marked
thermoplastics can be used for
animal ear tags to provide
indelible marks that make
accurate identification possi-
ble through vital information
specific to the animal, such as
feed type, genetics, medical
history, point of origin and
ownership. marking system can provide FastMARK allows the laser to
The FastMARK technology is significant advantages over leave a red, yellow, green or
being used by Cazenovia other marking methods, orange mark on darker colours
Product Development to pro- because it is clean, indelible, such as brown, black or dark
duce polyurethane ear tags non-contact and fast, provid- green.
laser marked with 2-D sym- ing a high quality mark. Other potential application
botogy, the next generation of Laser sensitive colour concen- areas for FastMARK include
bar coding. The tag is said to trates include different types of packaging, where they can be
be lightweight, low cost and additives to provide a choice of used for bar coding on
durable. It can be read by a shades for a range of polymers, polypropylene and polyethyl-
portable scanner and is able to natural or coloured. The com- ene terephthalare (PET) and
withstand environmental and pany adds that while tradition- for marking electronic hous-
physical abuse. Wilson Color al laser marks appear as grey, ings made of acrylnitrile buta-
says that the FastMARK laser white or black on plastic parts, diene styrene (ABS).
i ~ ! ~ ~~ 7 i ~ ......
Plastics Additives & Compounding June 1999
15