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Effect of Moisture on Properties of Polycarbonate: Improving Device Appearance

George Yule (President, Plastics Network Resources LLC)

Bill Baskind (President, WSB Engineering)

Location: 210C

Date: Tuesday, February 11

Time: 3:15pm - 4:00pm

Track: MD&M Conference: Advancements in Medical Plastics for Medtech

Vault Recording: TBD

Polycarbonate is a deliquescent condensation polymer and must be relieved of its inherent moisture to be successfully processed while maintaining its physical and cosmetic properties. This session will address a recent study conducted to demonstrate that without proper indication of moisture content of condensation polymers, specifically polycarbonate, physical and cosmetic properties can suffer. Engineers will be able to better understand the effects of moisture in thermoplastic materials processing, and how this affects the development of medical device hardware.

Topics covered include:

  • Degradation mechanism of polycarbonate in presence of occluded moisture
  • What can incomplete knowledge of moisture content of polycarbonate being processed by injection molding or extrusion equate to physical properties of medical devices?
  • What effect can this occluded moisture have on proper validation of the mold and parts molded thereof?
  • What effect can this occluded moisture have on compounding polycarbonate, even though a vented extruder is used to “vent off moisture”?
  • Effect of occluded moisture in other condensation polymers i.e., Polyesters, Polyurethanes, etc.

Presentation File

Tues_210C_315pm_Yule_BaskinMDM_PRESENTATION__FINAL_2102020_PowerPoint_2.pdf