Applications of Polyurethanes in Medical Devices

Science and Technology of Polyurethanes: Applications in Medical Devices provides detailed coverage of polyurethane (PU) chemistry, processing, and preparation for performant medical devices. Polyurethanes have found many uses in medical applications, due to their biocompatibility, biostability, physical properties, surface polarity, and the ability to suit the field of application. This book enables the reader to understand polyurethane and how this valuable material can be used in medical devices.

The opening chapters guide the reader through the chemistry, structure, and properties of polyurethane, with in-depth sections examining raw materials, reaction chemistry, synthesis techniques, reaction kinetics, material microstructure, and structure-property relationships. Subsequent chapters then demonstrate how polyurethane can be utilized in medical device applications, examining biological properties, rheology and processing, before methodical coverage explains how polyurethane may be used for each category of medical device. Finally, future directions, and safety and environmental aspects, are covered.

Polyurethane materials are unique in that there is a great dependence on the processing technique and its microstructure, which determine properties and applicability. This close inter-relationship, which is often neglected, is demonstrated with several practical examples. The performance and biological requirements of polyurethane in the application of this material in medical applications are also emphasized throughout the book, with thorough analysis of the reasons why specific formulations work in certain applications.

This book is an essential resource for plastics engineers, processors, and manufacturers of polyurethanes, as well as medical device manufacturers. In academic, this book supports researchers and advanced students in polyurethane, polymer science, plastics processing, and materials for medical devices.