The Purity Standard: Why Precipitated Silicone is Critical for Food & Medical Extrusions
In the high-stakes worlds of medical device manufacturing and food processing, material failure is not an option. It is not merely about durability; it is about purity, compliance, and consumer safety. For procurement officers and factory managers, choosing the right raw material for extruded tubing and hoses often comes down to balancing cost with rigorous safety certifications.
Enter the TN7X0E Series Precipitated Extrusion Silicone Rubber. Unlike standard industrial rubbers, this specialized material is engineered to meet the stringent demands of hygienic environments while maintaining exceptional processing speeds for the manufacturer.
Why “No Bubble” Technology Matters in Hygiene Applications
One of the most persistent challenges in extruding silicone for medical catheters or food-grade beverage tubing is the presence of micro-bubbles. In a standard industrial strip, a bubble is a cosmetic defect. In a medical or food contact hose, a bubble is a potential contaminant trap.
The TN7X0E series is formulated specifically to resolve this issue. Based on our specification data, this material is characterized by:
- High Extrusion Speed without Air Entrapment: The material flow is optimized to prevent turbulence that causes bubbles during the vulcanization process.
- Smooth Surface Finish: A perfectly smooth surface reduces friction in fluid transfer and prevents bacterial adhesion on the inner walls of the tubing.
- Translucent Appearance: The natural translucency allows for easy visual inspection of flow within the finished tubing, a critical requirement for medical IVs and food processing lines.
Navigating Compliance: FDA, ROHS, and REACH
For importers and contractors supplying Western markets, certification is the gateway to entry. A material might perform well physically, but if it lacks the paperwork, it is useless in regulated industries.
The TN7X0E series comes ready with a trifecta of global compliance standards:
- FDA (Food and Drug Administration): Essential for any product contacting food or beverages.
- ROHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances): Mandatory for the EU market, ensuring the material is free from lead, mercury, and other toxic heavy metals.
- REACH: Ensures compliance with European chemical safety regulations.
Sourcing a material that is pre-certified significantly reduces the testing burden on the final manufacturer and accelerates time-to-market for your end products.
Matching Hardness to Application: From Soft Tubing to Firm Seals
Medical and food applications require vastly different tactile properties. A peristaltic pump hose needs to be soft and flexible (high elongation), while a seal on a heavy industrial mixer needs to be firm and resistant to deformation.
The TN7X0E series offers a granular range of Shore A hardness to suit specific machinery needs:
| Model | Hardness (Shore A) | Ideal Application Scenario |
|---|---|---|
| TN-730E / 740E | 30±2 / 40±2 | Soft medical tubing, flexible peristaltic pump hoses requiring high elongation (up to 650%). |
| TN-750E / 760E | 50±2 / 60±2 | Standard fluid transfer hoses, beverage dispensing lines, general-purpose food seals. |
| TN-770E / 780E | 70±2 / 80±2 | Rigid gaskets for processing machinery, structural strips, and high-pressure connector seals. |
Mechanical Resilience: Tear Strength and Plasticity
Hygiene doesn’t mean fragile. Equipment in food processing plants undergoes rigorous cleaning cycles, often involving high temperatures and chemical washdowns. The material you extrude must withstand physical stress.
The TN7X0E series maintains a Tear Strength of ≥ 8 to 12 kN/m depending on the hardness grade. This ensures that even under tension or when clamped onto fittings, the silicone resists ripping. Furthermore, with plasticity values ranging from 140 to 350, the raw material offers excellent workability for the extruder, ensuring consistent dimensional stability batch after batch.
Conclusion: Secure Your Supply Chain with Certified Quality
In the B2B landscape, your reputation relies on the quality of your raw materials. Whether you are extruding catheters for a hospital or beverage lines for a brewery, the TN7X0E Precipitated Silicone Rubber series offers the balance of certified safety (FDA/ROHS) and superior physical performance.
Ready to upgrade your extrusion line efficiency and product quality? Contact our technical team today to request a sample of the TN7X0E series or to discuss custom hardness requirements for your specific project.
