The medical industry has grown dramatically in the variety and sophistication of its polymer applications, particularly in the manufacture of medical devices and unit packaging. Historically, among the transparent polymers used in large volumes there has been a broad gap between the low cost resins, such as polystyrene, polyethylene and polypropylene, which are either clear or tough, but not both, and the higher priced resins, such as polycarbonate and cellulosics, which are both clear and tough. A part of this gap has been filled by clear, tough K-Resin® styrene-butadiene copolymer (SBC). K-Resin® SBC is well-suited for medical applications for a number of reasons. Many medical devices must be clear enough to determine the nature, amount or condition of their contents during use, but tough enough to resist accidental breakage, particularly during those critical moments of an emergency. For that matter, routine breakage can be expensive, time consuming and hazardous. Similarly, clear packages allow accurate identification of contents and their condition. Packages composed of K-Resin® SBC are tough enough to protect their contents but can be designed to open easily. For the fabricator, KResin®SBC is easily and economically processed using conventional processing techniques. Recommended processing temperatures are lower than for many transparent resins while handling, storage, and processing requirements are comparatively straightforward. K-Resin SBC properties Two important characteristics of K-Resin® SBC are its crystal clarity and exceptional shatter resistance. In addition to this excellent clarity and impact strength, K-Resin® SBC is easy to process, provides for design versatility, has the thermal stability required to permit recycling of scrap, and has the necessary physical properties for a broad spectrum of applications. More importantly, grades of K-Resin® SBC which were tested for biological performance meet U.S. Pharmacopoeia (USP) XXIII Class VI requirements, are compatible with blood, demonstrate no cytotoxic, mutagenic or irritant potential, are not sensitizers, and are sterilizable by gamma irradiation, ethylene oxide gas or electron beam irradiation. Autoclave sterilization is unacceptable for K-Resin® SBC. Source:http://www.nevicolor.it/Apps/WebObjects/Nevicolor.woa/wa/viewFile?id=5128&lang=ita