Agenda
Replacing PTFE in Medical Devices: What the Industry Is Learning About Fluoropolymer Alternatives
Ned Burnett | Saint-Gobain
Pressure to evaluate alternatives to PTFE and other fluoropolymers is increasing across the medical device industry, driven by PFAS-related regulatory activity, sustainability objectives, supply considerations, and customer requirements. Yet PTFE remains difficult to replace because its value rarely comes from a single property. Chemical resistance, low friction, thermal stability, low surface energy, biological history, and decades of manufacturing experience can all be embedded in what appears on a drawing as a simple material specification.
This presentation examines the current state of PTFE replacement in medical devices, from catheter liners and fluid-transfer tubing to filtration, process aids, and implantable applications. Emerging approaches including UHMWPE liners, nonfluorinated catheter-liner technologies, lubricious formulations and coatings, high-performance polymers, and multilayer constructions will be compared through the functions they can reproduce and the new limitations they introduce. Particular attention will be given to what “chemical compatibility” actually means in an application, why temperature, time, stress, sterilization, and fluid composition can change the answer, and why a successful alternative often requires matching the needs of the finished device rather than the full PTFE property envelope.
Planning for Material Disruptions: Developing and Qualifying Drop-In Alternatives
Paul Gramann | Madison Group
This presentation will discuss strategies for identifying and qualifying backup plastic materials that can serve as “drop-in” alternatives when supply-chain disruptions, regulatory changes or material discontinuation threaten production. It will examine why materials with similar datasheet properties are not necessarily interchangeable and the key material, processing and performance characteristics that must be evaluated. The presentation will also address the importance of qualifying alternative materials before a disruption occurs to minimize production delays, tooling changes and unexpected product failures.
Predictive Modeling: an Essential Tool for Evaluating Material Substitution Impacts in Multilayer Plastic Films
Dan Ward | NOVA Chemicals Corporation
As multilayer film structures become increasingly complex, predictive modeling offers a powerful alternative to costly trials and experimental testing. This presentation showcases the BONFIRE® film development platform, best practices for model-driven development, and a case study demonstrating accelerated package redesign through data-driven material selection.
