Low Friction Coatings for Silicone and Polyisoprene Rubber
Surface Solutions Group applies low friction medical coatings to silicone and rubber components used in catheters, stents, seals, and other medical devices. Slick Sil® LSR chemically bonds to silicone and offers a flexible, biocompatible Parylene replacement for parts that flex or stretch, and will not crack.
Silicone’s popularity for use in medical devices has been growing. This is due to its compatibility with bodily fluids and strong chemical structure. Advancements in medical polymers are also part of this push toward next-generation single-use medical devices, implants and packaging technology.
In order to get the right material, configuration and manufacturing process for a device’s proper end use, it’s key to choose the proper technology to customize the silicone components for the right application. Surface Solutions Group has extensive experience in selecting the right coating for your product’s usage and desired functionality. We can apply the ideal low friction coatings for your silicone and rubber medical applications. We’ll review the advantages and disadvantages of several types of processing techniques for silicone, plus post-fabrication services like coating, sheeting, tubing and packaging.
Silicone Parts & Applications
Surface Solutions Group coats medical-grade silicone components used across cardiovascular, surgical, and implantable devices, including stents, syringes, cannulas, pacemaker leads, defibrillator leads, electrosurgical tools, and hearing aids.
- Stents
- Syringes
- Cannulas
- Hypodermic needles
- Pacemaker leads
- Electrosurgical devices
- Cardiac assistance devices
- Electrosurgical tools
- O-rings
- Medical electronics
- Defibrillator leads
- Seals and gaskets
- Electrosurgical blades
- Introducer tips
- Hearing aids
- Many other silicone parts
Due to its added durability and flexibility, silicone often has many more medical applications than polyisoprene rubber. In fact, performing many procedures and using many devices simply wouldn’t be possible without the use of medical-grade silicone.
Rubber Parts & Applications
Surface Solutions Group applies durable low-friction medical coatings to rubber valves, O-rings, tubing, molded parts, and extruded parts, transforming high-friction rubber surfaces into durable, low-friction surfaces suitable for medical device use.
- Valves
- O-rings
- Tubing
- Molded parts
- Extruded parts
- Many other rubber parts
Eliminate the Stickiness of Silicone Rubber
Slick Sil® LSR is a chemically bonded, biocompatible silicone coating that replaces Parylene on flexible silicone substrates, eliminating the cracking and peeling that occurs when rigid Parylene is applied to parts that flex or stretch. This dramatic low friction coating Slick Sil® for silicone rubber allows designers and engineers to have the benefits of silicone rubber without the high friction surface. Slick Sil® LSR meets USP Class VI biocompatibility requirements.
All molded or extruded silicone rubber components can be processed with the SSG Slick Sil® LSR low friction technology. SSG’s Slick Sil® LSR is a great parylene replacement coating that makes silicone slippery.
Slick Sil® LSR Performance Specifications
Slick Sil® reduces the friction of silicone catheters by 40 to 60 percent, can be applied to 40 to 90 durometer silicone, and cures at temperatures below 350 degrees F.
- When used on catheters, Slick Sil® reduces the friction properties of silicone by 40 – 60%
- Can be applied to 40 – 90 durometer silicone
- Cure temperatures of less than 350 F
- Replacement for Parylene
- Chemical bonding versus mechanical bond to the silicone
- Flexible
Low Friction & Flexible Replacement for Parylene
Slick Sil® LSR is a translucent matte coating designed to reduce the coefficient of friction (COF) and hence, the friction force of molded and extruded silicone elastomers. The ability of the Slick Sil® LSR medical coating for rubber to reduce the surface friction of elastomeric silicone parts enables LIM® (Liquid Silicone Rubber), HCR, and RTV materials to be utilized in areas that were previously closed to silicones due to their high inherent COF.
Key Features:
- Low friction (.31) vs. raw silicone (.65)
- Chemical bond
- Thin film (.0005” – .001”)
- Elastomeric
- Excellent elongation
- Reduces surface dust pick up
- VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) free
- Biocompatible (USP class VI requirements)
- Can be tinted by using silicone compatible pigments
- Anti-microbial properties (optional)
Parylene and Silicone Lubricants: Common Limitations
Parylene cracks on flexible silicone substrates and requires costly vapor deposition. Traditional silicone lubricants risk migration, contamination of adjacent manufacturing areas, added process cost, and provide no antimicrobial properties.
- Parylene:
- A rigid coating that cracks on flexible silicone (physical bond)
- Requires time-consuming and expensive vapor deposition process
- No anti-microbial properties
- Silicone Lubricants:
- If not applied correctly, the lubricant can migrate
- Extra cost and step in manufacturing process
- Contamination of other manufacturing areas in facility
- Extremely expensive
- No anti-microbial properties
Antimicrobial FluoroMed®-AM Additive for Slick Sil®
FluoroMed®-AM is a silver-ion antimicrobial additive that can be combined with Slick Sil® LSR to deliver continuous device surface sanitization for improved patient safety.
- An antimicrobial additive for the device sanitization and safety of the patient
- Can be added to our Slick Sil® coating
- Silver ion technology for improved product performance
Contact us today to discuss your project with a technical consultant.