Assessment of Mechanical Properties and Biocompatibility of Pellethane®
Pellethane® CPR 2363-80A nonreinforced (PUR), nonreinforced and twice sterilized (PUR F2), reinforced with Dacron® (Dm), Grisuten® (DG) and glassfibre (PUG) and fabricated under different conditions have been examinated. Tests included uniaxial tension at 310 K, torsional movement from 293 to 319 K, X-ray structure, SEM, visual surface clotting, thrombocyte adhesion and degree of albumenisation. Typical in vitro results were: modulus of elasticity E [MPa] (PUR: 1.33, Dm: 4.22, DG: 1.86, PUG: 622.5), tensile strength δB [MPa] (43.4, 12.5, 21.7, 24.9), elongation at break δ [%] (1122, 109, 660, 479), dynamic modulus of sliding G', G” [MPa] at 293 K (8.7, 0.4/ 15.9, 0.9/ 12.1, 1.3/ 17.1, 1.5), damping tanδ (0.13, 0.1, 0.16, 0.12), orientational degree at 5% elongation fx [%] (PUR: 0.5), low thrombogenicity and high degree of albumenisation. The results indicate a strong dependency of mechanical and biocompatibility properties on membrane and housing fabrication. The most effective combination is a thin PUR membrane and a PUG housing fabricated under special conditions.