An Introduction to Polymeric Materials for Medical Devices
By Eric R. George, Ph.D., of ERG Polymers LLC
This short review serves as an introduction to the utility of polymeric materials employed in healthcare and medical devices (MD). Some terminology and nomenclature used to commonly describe polymers are discussed as well as a process for material selection. Polymer structure and chemistry as related to specific MD application requirements are introduced.
Polymers are macromolecules that range from biopolymers (produced from natural sources like proteins and cellulose) to synthetic commodity, engineering, and high-performance polymers used in medical devices in addition to household goods, automotive, and aerospace applications, to name a few. Polymers can be broadly classified as thermoplastics or thermosets, meaning they become malleable or hardened (set) with temperature, respectively. The focus here is on thermoplastics but includes an example of a thermoset. Polymers are p