Avantor publishes white paper helping manufacturers select lubrication options

Integrated solutions provider Avantor has published a new white paper from its NuSil brand to help medical device manufacturers evaluate and select the right type of lubricants for their applications.  

NuSil’s “Medical-Grade Silicone Lubricants for Medical Devices” white paper provides an overview of considerations for manufacturers when selecting biocompatible silicone lubricants. The white paper includes recommendations from lubricant properties and device substrates, to criteria in purity and customisation. It also provides a guide to help readers choose an appropriate lubricant based on application requirements and limitations.

Readers will be able to understand the interactions of different formulations with different substrates in the manufacturing process, as well as overall performance benefits for various applications.

Information is also included about the nature of common substrates that need to be lubricated, such as silicone, metal, glass and plastic, as well as the reasons that materials and surfaces require different types of silicone lubricants. Customisation is also covered through the possible variations in premium silicone lubricant formulations and different application demands.

Dr Jim Lambert, Technology & Innovation director, Biomaterials, said: “Silicone chemistries can be modified to accommodate lubricity, substrate compatibility, performance characteristics and cure chemistries. With the decision points involved in selecting and working with medical-grade silicone lubricants and formulators, this paper serves as a starting point to help device manufacturers select appropriate lubricants as well as a manufacturer that can meet their specifications, on a batch-to-batch level.”