Fillers

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There are many times when you may want to further alter the performance of your polymer tubing for more specialized applications. For those occasions, we provide the additional option of custom fillers to enhance the properties of your base polymer resin; this allows you to get the most out of your polymer product and maximize your end value.

Reaching many industries, our custom filler tubing is used in a wide range of environmental extremes and demanding situations. We have the experience and know-how to be successful in these arenas and can provide solutions you need today.

Medical Uses and Radio Opaque (RO) Tubing

In the medical field, our tubing has become a mainstay. To keep up with the latest innovations and regulations, we continue to do our part to provide products with the highest utility. Fluoropolymer tubing is radio lucent, which makes it difficult to see under fluoroscopy, which is the type of visualization that allows the physician to see and position medical devises during the surgical procedure. Radio opaque fillers added to fluoropolymer aid in visualization under this traditional technique by changing the density of the plastic. Barium sulfate and bismuth trioxide are two of the most commonly used filler to enhance radio opacity in polymers.

In a similar manner as bismuth trioxide is used in PTFE, barium sulfate is used in FEP tubing components for medical devices to provide visualization during fluoroscopy guided procedures. Both fillers are Class VI approved.

Aside from these specific examples, we provide radio opaque tubing (also known as x-ray tubing) filled with barium sulfate or bismuth trioxide extruded from other resins as well.

Non-medical Industry Uses

Many applications of our tubing outside of the medical industry require additional filler customizations. For example, small glass beads can be blended into resins such as PTFE during extrusion to produce a tubing with improved abrasion resistance for use in harsh mechanical environments. Glass-filled PTFE enhances the tubing’s bondability. Glass filled tubing also exhibits reduced coefficient of thermal expansion – important in high heat environments.

Carbon fillers help to dissipate static that can be present in many applications. The carbon additive also increases resistance to wear when heavy loads are in constant contact with the tubing. Carbon filled tubing is black in color.

Contact us here or call toll-free in the US 1-800-526-3842 or +1-803-268-9500 internationally today to find out more about how our customizable fillers can improve your product or if you do not see a filler option that you are looking for.

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