GE’s New Biocompatible Lexan* Resins For Healthcare Offer Advanced Levels of Autoclave & Impact Resistance, Flow & Release Performance

BERGEN OP ZOOM, THE NETHERLANDS — May 18, 2005 — GE Advanced Materials has introduced three new, biocompatible polycarbonate (PC) resins, further expanding its portfolio of high-tech materials solutions for applications in the healthcare industry. Lexan* HPX8R, Lexan HPX4, and Lexan HP1HF resins all offer the excellent strength, mechanical qualities, and clarity similar to other products in the Lexan PC resin family. But these latest materials also mark new improvements to flow and ductility, as well as enhanced resistance to impact and autoclave sterilization.

The rapid growth of the global healthcare industry has driven rising demand for innovative materials that provide increased design flexibility, while meeting stringent requirements for biocompatibility, resistance to sterilization techniques, and reliable high performance. GE has responded by focusing its world-renowned expertise and resources on the development of new generations of advanced materials to address the needs of designers, OEMs, and moulders serving the healthcare industry.

“Our new Lexan resin grades more than broaden GE’s portfolio of healthcare solutions; they also raise the bar in terms of high performance,” says Guus Boekhoudt, European field marketing director, PC Based Products, GE Advanced Materials. “They represent a major breakthrough for GE’s Lexan resin technology in the healthcare industry on a number of important fronts.”

With Lexan HPX8R and Lexan HPX4 resins, GE not only introduced two new high-performance resins, it has launched an entirely new product family. The resins employ a new co-polymer formulation based on an advanced, proprietary technology that offers better flow performance when compared to conventional polycarbonates. Importantly, the new GE products achieve this without the use of additives. This quality allows the Lexan HPX resins to address the healthcare industry’s concerns about additive migration, or the loss of surface additives from cleaning operations.

GE’s unique co-polymer technology also enables the new Lexan HPX resin grades to offer self-lubricating performance. Lexan HPX8R and HPX4 resin demonstrate particularly excellent mould release, as well as higher flow performance vs. traditional materials. Lexan HPX4 resin also offers an extra degree of low-temperature ductility, much improved hydrolytic stability, and superb impact strength.

Both new Lexan HPX resins are biocompatible, and deliver outstanding resistance to autoclave sterilization. Lexan HPX4 resin additionally offers resistance to repetitive washing and cleaning processes. Like all Lexan grades, those in the Lexan HPX resin product family are compatible with GE’s line of Visualfx* special effects resins, offering the potential for enhanced aesthetics.

Potential applications for Lexan HPX8R and HPX4 resins include surgical instrumentation, personal drug delivery devices, and monitoring equipment.

Lexan HP1HF resin rounds out GE’s latest wave of new products for the healthcare industry. It joins the established line of tough and virtually unbreakable Lexan resin healthcare products that includes selections offering excellent resistance to Gamma, EtO, and steam sterilization; lipids and other chemicals; and high heat.

In addition to offering biocompatibility and FDA food contact compliance, Lexan HP1HF resin provides superb processing capabilities, excellent flow (37MFI g/10 min.), and outstanding hydrostability. Its unique performance qualities make it an excellent candidate for such healthcare applications such as drug delivery devices, monitoring equipment, and fluid delivery components.

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Netherlands

+31 164 29 20 97

helen.vandebovenkamp@​ge.com

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