MOSCOW (MRC) -- At Compamed tradeshow, Covestro has exhibited the first blown Platilon films with a very high matte level, which was previously only obtainable with cast films, as per the company's press release.
They are well suited for wearable health patches, which have to remain on the skin of patients for extended periods.
Covestro exhibited a new line of Platilon films with very matte surfaces. The products were developed for a variety of medical applications, including wound care, surgical drapes and wearable health patches. They are the first blown films with a very high matte level, previously only obtainable with cast films. The new products enable a more efficient production yet support modern design.
Thanks to their matte surface, the films are pleasant to the touch. In contact with clothing, they feature lower friction than glossy films and are therefore longer-lasting. And in the operating room, the anti-reflection films prevent staff from being blinded by bright light.
Wearables have enormous market potential, although the technology still needs to clear a few hurdles. Small electronic patches, however, are in broader use in the health care sector. Consumers can use them to determine their level of physical fitness, measure body temperature and pulse rate, or evaluate the quality of their sleep. In the future, improved and even smarter products are expected to play a supporting role in medical diagnosis and treatment, and even deliver medications in accurate dosages.
For these applications, wearables have to remain on the skin of patients for extended periods and be comfortable to wear. "A clever combination of different materials results in products that cling gently to the skin and are also breathable and hypoallergenic," says Gerd Buschel, a films expert at Covestro. The patch is affixed to the skin by means of a skin-friendly, breathable adhesive, which also is solvent-free. "In addition to the new matte films, we also market customized polyurethane raw materials for the manufacture of the electronic plasters," says Gerd Buschel.
As MRC wrote earlier, in September 2017, German drugs and pesticides group Bayer further reduced its holding in Covestro to 31.5% from 40.9% by selling 19 million shares in the plastics business for a total of EUR1.2 billion (USD1.4 billion).
With 2016 sales of EUR 11.9 billion, Covestro (formerly Bayer MaterialScience) is among the world’s largest polymer companies. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, construction, wood processing and furniture, and electrical and electronics industries. Other sectors include sports and leisure, cosmetics, health and the chemical industry itself. Covestro has 30 production sites worldwide and employs approximately 15,600 people (calculated as full-time equivalents) at the end of 2016.
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