LEADING PLASTICS FOR MEDICAL DEVICES
Physical Properties versus Application ranked by annual usage
(Source: POLYETHYLENES, Brian J. Pellon, Director, Technical Services, Rexene Corp. Dallas; MDDI, April 1994)
| Polymer Material | Specific Gravity | Radiation 25 kGy | Visual Clarity | Tensile Strength psi Yield | Elongation to Break (%) | Stiff or Ductile | Relative Ease of Processing | Leading Medical Uses |
| PVC, Flexible, Rigid | 1.21 1.45 | Yes Yellows | Clear Clear | 2500 6500 | 350 0.5-150 | Ductile Stiff | With extreme care, can burn | Film, bags, tubing, molded parts |
| Polyethylene, (all types) | 0.88-0.96 | Yes | Cloudy to clear | 4000 | 500-1000 | Ductile to stiff | Easy | Containers, film, molded parts, caps |
| Polystyrene | 1.05 | Yes | High Clarity | 6000 | 2-5 | Very stiff | Easy | Labware |
| Polypropylene | 0.9 | Yes (stabilised) | Cloudy to clear | 5000 | 500-700 | Ductile | Easy | Containers, syringes |
| Thermoplastic Polyesters, Copolyesters & Copolyester Blends | 1.35 1.2-1.31 | Yes Yes | Clear Clear | 7800 6500-8100 | 50-300 110-300 | Stiff Ductile | With care With care | Containers, molded parts Molded parts, packaging, film |
| Thermoplastic Elastomers, Elastomeric Alloys, Styrene Block Copolymers | 0.9-1.2 0.9-1.2 | Yes Yes | Opaque Translucent and opaque | 450-1600 750-2700 | 300-600 550-1200 | Ductile Ductile | Easy Easy |