Tekni-Plex products

Tekni-Plex Medical Areas of Expertise - Specialty Extrusion

Tekni-Plex - Polyolefins

Polyolefins are used in a wide range of catheter applications, from dilators used in vascular introducer sets, to lumen liners in interventional catheters. This family includes polypropylene (PP), low density polyethylene (LDPE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE). These materials are processible on conventional equipment, economically priced, and offer low friction properties approaching that of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

Tekni-Plex - Polyamides

Polyamides, also known as nylons, and polyamide copolymers (e.g., Arkema’s Pebax® polymer) are used in a wide range of catheter shafts and outer layers. They are the materials of choice in balloon and stent delivery catheters. The polyamides that dominate this catheter market are soft grades, such as nylon 11 and nylon 12. Polyamide copolymers offer a wide range of durometer and flexibility so that catheters can be designed with variable flexibility along the shafts.