28 Aug 2001
VICTREX® PEEK™ polymer – the long-life choice for a self-aspirating dental syringe
Eclipse Dental Manufacturing of Worthing, Sussex, UK, has successfully replaced aluminium with Victrex® PEEK™ polymer for the finger and thumb grips on a self-aspirating dental cartridge syringe. PEEK high performance polyaryletherketone is the only engineering thermoplastic that can maintain a very high level of mechanical strength and stress cracking resistance when exposed to repeated autoclave cycles.
According to Mr. Frank Powell, Eclipse’s Managing Director, dentists use the syringe to administer a local anaesthetic. The aluminium parts, which were used previously, allowed anaesthetic to leak from the syringe and were being degraded by the caustic cleaning materials, which are used by dentists. Eclipse was therefore looking for a material, which could eliminate these problems while providing long-term stability when subjected to four autoclave sterilization cycles per day over a period of up to four years.
Eclipse selected PEEK™ polymer as it offers long-term resistance to routine sterilisation cycles in which temperatures typically reach 138°C. The polymer has a glass transition temperature of 143°C and retains a high level of mechanical properties close to its melting temperature of 343°C. PEEK™ polymer also provides excellent resistance to a broad range of chemicals, even at elevated temperatures. This includes morpholine, which is often used as an anti-corrosion agent in autoclaving processes.
PEEK™ polymer was also selected for its consistent ease of processing and its inherent design freedom. Moulded by UK-based Partridge Plastics, the PEEK™ polymer parts are designed for snap-fit assembly. This process is faster, more cost-effective and more secure than the assembly of the former aluminium parts, which were threaded together. Furthermore, PEEK™ polymer’s wide colour availability offers Eclipse broader opportunities for product differentiation.
The design of the self-aspirating syringe allows the dentist to check that the position of the needle is correct and that the anaesthetic will be safely administered. Distributed exclusively in the UK by Blackwell Supplies, this unique PEEK™ polymer stainless steel syringe complements a wide range of Eclipse’s dental products, which are marketed under the trade name Rotor.
Reader enquiries
Helen SwarbrickVictrex plc
Victrex Technology Centre
Hillhouse International
Thornton Cleveleys
Lancashire FY5 4QD
United Kingdom
Tel +44 1253 897700
Fax +44 1253 897701
United Kingdom
Notes for editors
Victrex plc, which has its sales, technical and production headquarters at Thornton Cleveleys in Lancashire, UK, had a turnover of more than £58m in the last financial year. The company exports 98 percent of its VICTREX® PEEK™ polymer output to OEMs in the automotive, industrial, medical, food and electronics market sectors in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific.
Information on products, technical support services and sales and distribution contacts worldwide, can be accessed through the company’s web site: www.victrex.com
The PEEK™ Trademark
For many years Victrex plc has been using the PEEK™ trademark to refer to its brand of Polyaryletherketone. Victrex plc is the sole manufacturer and supplier of the PEEK™ brand polymer world-wide. PEEK™ is a trademark of Victrex plc.
Related images
Eclipse Dental Manufacturing of Worthing, Sussex, UK, has successfully replaced aluminium with Victrex® PEEK™ polymer for the finger and thumb grips on a self-aspirating dental cartridge syringe.
Editorial enquiries
Geoff Small
Victrex plc
John Gallagher
EMG