Boyd Coatings Research Co., Hudson, Mass., announces the capability to coat Nitinol medical devices with unmodified PTFE at a lower temperature than possible with standard PTFE, which cures at 700°F in its usual formulation. The company developed a new process that enables applying unmodified PTFE, which cures at less than 500°F, to Nitinol devices in several colors.
Typically, pure PTFE requires temperatures of 700°F to cure. Because Nitinol materials cannot tolerate temperatures beyond 500°F without adverse reactions, PTFE was previously applied in hybrid forms in which a resin binder was added, enabling cure at lower temperatures. This lower-temperature binder held the PTFE in a matrix to preserve the characteristics of the Nitinol material.
Unfortunately, PTFE hybrids produce higher coefficients of friction, thus diminishing the “slipperiness” of PTFE coatings. The “slippery,” non-stick qualities of PTFE on a Nitinol medical device can be very significant for that device’s success.
“We’ve developed a new process that allows us to apply high-temperature-curing fluoropolymer coatings, such as PTFE, to Nitinol in their pure form,” explains Don Garcia, Director, R&D of Boyd Coatings. “To our knowledge, Boyd Coatings is the only company with this capability. Hybrid forms of PTFE with resin binders are no longer needed to keep below the Nitinol transition temperature. Being able to use the pure form of PTFE on Nitinol is a major technical development for manufacturers of Nitinol devices.”
Last year, Boyd Coatings announced the availability of PTFE in six standard colors, as well as customized colors for medical products. Prime examples include guidewires, mandrels, and hypotubes. According to Mr. Garcia, these PTFE colors are also able to be applied to Nitinol.
The company is ISO 9001 registered and is a licensed applicator of all the major fluoropolymer manufacturers, including DuPont Teflon, Whitford Xylan, 3M fluoropolymers, and other popular coatings providing non-stick, heat resistant, conductive, insulative, hydrophobic and other beneficial properties.
