UHMWPE dip-coated tubes
AssigneeZeus Co., Ltd.
InventorsBhavya Singhi, John Richard Campanelli
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Abstract
The disclosure provides tubes comprising ultra high molecular weight poly(ethylene) (UHMWPE). Such tubes can have thin walls and be suitable for applications, e.g., as catheter liners. Methods for preparing such tubes include dip coating a core into a dispersion comprising the UHMWPE, where the dispersion advantageously further comprises an eco-friendly solvent and can optionally include one or more additional components (e.g., fillers and/or other polymers).
Claims20
An Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) tube,
- wherein the tube comprises distinct, partially fused UHMWPE particles,
- wherein the tube exhibits:
- a. an average wall thickness of 0.004″ or less;
- and
- b. a tensile stress at break greater than 6 MPa, and
- wherein the tube is formed by dip coating such that the tube exhibits little to no machine direction molecular orientation.
A coated core, comprising a continuous Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) layer in the form of a tube over a core,
- wherein the UHMWPE layer comprises distinct, partially fused UHMWPE particles,
- wherein the UHMWPE layer has an average thickness of about 0.002″ or less, and an average tensile stress at break greater than 6 MPa, when measured after removal from the core, and
- wherein the UHMWPE layer is formed by dip coating such that the UHMWPE layer exhibits little to no machine direction molecular orientation.
An Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) catheter liner, the catheter liner in the form of a tube exhibiting:
- a. an average wall thickness of 0.004″ or less;
- and
- b. a tensile stress at break greater than 6 MPa,
- wherein the UHMWPE catheter liner comprises distinct, partially fused UHMWPE particles, and
- wherein the UMHWPE catheter liner is formed by dip coating such that the tube exhibits little to no machine direction molecular orientation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.