Dow Corning debuts new LSR grades at MD&M West

This family of eight translucent silicone elastomers has been developed for short-term and non-implant and insertion applications. According to Dow Corning, they are available in a wide range of durometers and combine high performance, including good tear strength, with processing advantages that can reduce cycle times. The materials are also US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) food contact compliant by formulation and are USP Class VI tested.

Dow Corning QP1 LSR materials are two-part, platinum-catalysed silicone elastomers supplied in a kit and suitable for liquid injection moulding. They combine high tear strength for high durability in applications facing tough physical demands, such as membranes, with low compression set, which is of particular value for parts such as seals or valves that are subjected to compression during use.

The performance of these silicone elastomers also offers customers the possibility to avoid a post-curing step for certain applications, increasing productivity, says Dow Corning. Other processing advantages are batch-to-batch consistency and fast cure. When cured, they are thermally stable to 204 °C (400 °F) and are available in 20 – 75 Shore A hardnesses. The materials are formulated without the use of peroxides, peroxide by-products, chlorophenyls or PCBs. Nor do they use organic plasticisers, phthalates or latex additives. They meet FDA 21 CFR 177.2600 requirements for food contact applications.

Applications for QP1 LSR grades include short-term (29 days or fewer) implants such as wound drains and gastric feeding tubes, non-implant devices such as needle-less access valves, surgical devices such as anesthesia masks, and consumer products including nasal aspirators.