As an expert in all areas of silicone parts and extrusion manufacturing, we have an extensive range of medical-grade silicone capabilities, creating extrusions and products suitable for use in hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
This material has numerous qualities that make it ideal for the medical industry, including its hygienic and sterile characteristics and its suitability and safe reaction when in contact with the human body. This article provides an overview of this material, its uses, and our expert capabilities, so read on for more information about medical-grade silicone and why we might be the perfect fit for your needs.
We have an extensive range of platinum-cured silicone, USP VI-rated products, including medical-grade silicone sheets, tubing, strips, and custom extrusion manufacturing capabilities for various applications in medical devices, equipment, and instruments.
What is medical-grade silicone?
Medical-grade silicone is an extensively tested synthetic elastomer with essential biocompatibility and qualities for appropriate use in medical applications and equipment. Its hygienic and sterile characteristics make it ideal for those within the healthcare and medical industries, including its robust nature and durability, ensuring it will work well within hospital and clinic environments.
At Viking Extrusions, we have a diverse range of medical-grade silicone extrusion capabilities, including developing and manufacturing bespoke moulds to industry-leading standards. When working with medical silicone rubber, there are multiple requirements and strict regulations to ensure it is safe for use in medical environments. This material differs from other types of silicone in that it is highly chemically stable and non-reactive, making it safe to come into contact with the human body.
Explore our versatile range of durable, heat-resistant and chemical-resistant medical silicone rubber products, perfect for creating watertight and airtight seals.
The advantages of medical silicone extrusions
Medical-grade silicone has multiple beneficial properties, making it an astute choice within the medical industry thanks to its high sterility and resistance to harsh materials. The key advantages of this material include:
- Biocompatibility: Medical-grade silicone causes no response from the immune system, making it safe for use in and on the human body.
- Durability: Its long-lasting nature and resistance to high temperatures and chemicals are essential for safe and effective use in medical environments.
- Sterility: The great sterile characteristics of medical-grade silicone and its resistance to bacteria and fungi make it extremely hygienic. Its non-toxic and hypoallergenic composition is useful for making watertight seals that are resistant to body fluids.
- Versatility: This material is easy to mould, making it useful in various specialist applications, including its ability to withstand high compression and return to its shape, increasing longevity.
- Safety: The high industry regulations and extensive testing medical silicone rubber undergoes before use makes it an extremely safe option, needing to adhere to strict safety protocols.
At Viking Extrusions, we hold all relevant silicone extrusion manufacturing certifications, including iso 9001 and ISO 14001, with our team being committed to delivering close attention to detail at all times to remain compliant and meet industry regulations.
Medical uses for silicone rubber
As mentioned, because of its excellent sterility and hygienic properties, medical-grade silicone is ideal for use in hospitals and healthcare facilities. It can be used across numerous applications within the industry due to its safe-to-touch nature and resistance to high temperatures and chemicals.
This material can be used to create medical-safe seals, tubing and gaskets, as well as components in large-scale equipment such as scanners, monitors, ventilators, and infusion pumps. Other applications include smaller-scale uses to create hygienic tubing and components for feeding tubes, drainage tubes, catheters, dental instruments, and medical valves, to name a few.
To discuss your requirements and to explore how Viking Extrusion’s medical-grade silicone capabilities can help you, contact our helpful and friendly team today.
Our bespoke manufacturing capabilities
We have become one of the leading silicone extrusion manufacturers and suppliers in the industry thanks to the knowledge, expertise, and skills of our in-house team. We have proven experience in supplying our clients with products and opportunities they couldn’t get anywhere else on the market, having worked on projects of all types and sizes.
We have worked tirelessly to perfect our manufacturing process and ensure we only use the highest quality materials and compounds, which includes our medical-grade silicone extrusions. We also provide products in all tolerances, grades, and colours, with our production team being able to match RAL and Pantone numbers and colour-matching customer samples.
We have a range of readily available extrusions, including inflatable seals, silicone rubber tubing, strips, and cords, as well as silicone sponge parts and much more. The aspect that sets us apart from the competition and ensures we shine is our bespoke extrusion manufacturing capabilities, creating custom moulds that we can then provide in large-scale quantities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is food-grade silicone the same as medical-grade silicone?
Medical-grade silicone and food-grade silicone are manufactured to extremely high standards. Food-grade silicone complies with EU and FDA regulations, whereas medical-grade silicone is made to USP VI regulations. There are subtle differences in composition between the two, which means they should only be used in their respective industries.
How long does medical-grade silicone last?
Medical silicone rubber is estimated to last at least 20 years. We are also able to platinum-cure our extrusions and products, which will likely help them last longer.
Is 100% medical-grade silicone safe?
Medical-grade silicone is incredibly safe as it must meet stringent checks and regulations to receive the “medical-grade” title. It’s safe for human contact, non-toxic, and non-hazardous, as well as being chemically stable and sterile.
Does medical-grade silicone have BPA?
Our medical-grade silicone is free of materials and chemicals you’d find in plastics, including BPA and latex. This is necessary as this grade of silicone must be hypoallergenic and cause no immunological response. Exposure to materials such as BPA and latex can cause an allergic response.
Contact us
Hopefully, this article has provided you with all the information you were looking for about medical-grade silicone. However, if you need any further details or have any questions about our capabilities and how we can help fulfil your needs, contact us today.
