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This versatility has caused polyurethane to increasingly replace e.g. steel, PVC or rubber in many industrial areas. This is because the application potential of these traditional materials is largely exhausted. By comparison (see Table Key Advanteges), PU features a number of advantages.
In contrast to for example PVC, PU has a number od advantages. It is more flexible, durable and abrasion-resistant to aggressive materials and chemicals. This increases the service life of PU products. In addition, PU processed by Masterflex is not only hard to ignite but in contrast to PVC is entirely free from softeners. Thus, in the event of a fire, no harmful vapours are released.
The advantages of PU over metal are chiefly in its greater flexibility and its substantially lower weight.
But even in comparison to rubber, PU features higher abrasion resistance, a lower specific weight and greater flexibility. Unlike black rubber hoses, PU-made hoses are transparent allowing the user to confirm the media flow visually.
Another point in favour of PU as a material is its environmental compatibility. As a result of generally greater awareness and more stringent environmental protection regulations, also outside Germany, a large potential awaits Masterflex in this field in the future. .
In Medical Technology, polyurethane is valued among other on account of its thrombosis prevention properties. This is particularly important when catheters are inserted into the body and remain there for some time. To prevent platelets from lodging on them and cause clogging, PVC catheters are coated with e.g. heparine to provide an anti-thrombogenic effect. Heparine, however, breaks down rapidly in the body. Polyurethane catheters do not require any special coating. In addition, they offer far better resistance to aging, in other words, they have a longer useful life. Another important advantage is the biodegradability of polyurethane, i.e. it breaks down on its own. This means that a large number of operations still necessary today can be dispensed with in the future
Comparison of materials
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