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Book cover of Handbook of Polymer Applications in Medicine and Medical Devices

Handbook of Polymer Applications in Medicine and Medical Devices

7. Silicones

by André Colas, Jim Curtis · 2013

ISBN: 0128076690 9780128076699

Category: Technology & Engineering / Engineering (General)

Page count: 368

Silicone materials have been widely used in medicine for over 60 years. Available in a variety of material types, they have unique chemical and physical properties that manifest in excellent biocompatibility and biodurability for many applications. Silicone elastomers have remarkably low glass-transition temperatures and maintain their flexibility over a wide temperature range, enabling them to withstand conditions from cold storage to steam autoclaving. They have high permeability to gases and many drugs, advantageous respectively in wound care or in transdermal drug delivery. They have low surface tension and remarkable chemical stability, enabling biocompatibility and biodurability in many long-term implant applications.