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Medical Tubing Materials
Medical tubing materials: polyurethanes, nylons, engineering resins, fluoropolymers and custom compounds. We help you choose the right resin and durometer.
Materials expertise
We help you choose the resin, too.
Choosing medical grade tubing materials is one of the first decisions in any device program. When you need custom medical tubing, you need a partner with expertise in extrusion materials, processing, and tool design and fabrication, someone who can translate your vision into a precision extruded part. Our experience extruding medical grade polyurethanes and nylons may be unmatched anywhere.
Our background does not end there. We are a pioneer in the extrusion of high heat engineering plastics such as PEEK, PEI and polysulfone, and in thermoplastic fluoropolymers such as FEP, EFEP and PFA. Whether your part is co-extruded or made from a custom compound, we help you land on the right material and durometer before the first run.
Material families
Find your material.
Start with a family, then compare grades on each datasheet.
01
Polyurethane tubing
Carbothane, Estane, Pellethane, Tecoflex, Tecothane and Texin. Flexible, tough and easy to bond.
02
Nylon tubing
Nylon 6, 6,6, 11 and 12, Pebax and Vestamid. Pushable, lubricious and pressure resistant.
04
Fluoropolymer tubing
FEP, PFA and EFEP for low friction, chemical resistance and high temperatures.
Quick comparison
Material families side by side.
| Family | Flexibility | Strengths | In-body use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polyurethanes | Soft to rigid | Toughness, kink resistance, bonds easily | May be suitable up to 30 days |
| Nylons | Semi-flexible to rigid | Pushability, lubricity, pressure resistance | May be suitable up to 30 days |
| Engineering resins | Somewhat to very rigid | Strength, heat resistance, repeat sterilization | Not for 30-day use |
| Fluoropolymers | Flexible to semi-rigid | Low friction, chemical inertness | Confirm with supplier |
Hardness is only part of the picture. Two resins with the same durometer can behave very differently in the extruder, so we look at melt flow, moisture sensitivity and how the material will bond or co-extrude with the rest of your device. Lot-to-lot variation matters too, especially in polyurethanes, which is why we define an acceptable melt flow range when a part is validated.
Still deciding? Tell us what the tube has to do.
How we help
Choosing a material with us.
Material choice decides how a tube performs and whether it can be extruded at all. Here is how we work through it with you.
01
Tell us the job
What the tube must do, where it goes in the body, how long it stays there and how it will be sterilized.
02
Narrow the field
We compare candidate resins on hardness, strength, flow behavior, moisture sensitivity and bonding needs.
03
Check extrudability
Melt strength, draw-down and thermal stability have to suit your geometry, especially in multi-lumen designs.
04
Prove it on the line
Prototype lots run on dedicated R&D extruders before anything is committed to production.
Questions
Medical tubing materials, answered.
Material questions are where most projects start. Ask us anything.
Which materials does Microspec extrude?
Most thermoplastic elastomers and engineering resins, including medical polyurethanes, nylons and Pebax, high heat plastics such as PEEK, PEI and polysulfone, fluoropolymers such as FEP, EFEP and PFA, and custom formulations supplied by customers.
Can you help me choose a material?
Yes. We apply our knowledge of materials, equipment, processes and tooling to your requirements, help you find the information you need and help you interpret it. Tell us the function, environment and sterilization method and we will recommend options.
Do you co-extrude different materials together?
Yes. Co-extrusion lets one tube combine the properties of two or more materials, such as a stiff nylon body with a soft polyurethane layer, or encapsulated radiopaque stripes.
Not sure which material fits your device?
Send us your specs, or just describe the problem. A member of our team will follow up personally to walk through tolerances, materials and schedule.
Start a project
Tell us about your part and our team will follow up personally.
Have full drawings and tolerances? Use our detailed request form.