This industry requires careful selection of materials – purity is essential, as is the chemical nature of the products used. For example, polyisoprene rubber (IR) is used in applications due to the proteins present in natural rubber (NR). There are many impurities in general rubber compounding ingredients that must be avoided for use in these applications.
Medical applications require some products to undergo stringent cleaning regimes together with repeated steam sterilisation. When developing the rubber compound and part design, these considerations are taken into account – resistance to steam and cleaning products is essential.