Solvay’s KetaSpire PEEK Powders Coat Metal Tubes for Electrosurgery

Solvay’s KetaSpire PEEK powders have been chosen by Surgical Coatings LLC to coat metal tubes used in electrosurgery. KetaSpire polyetheretherketone (PEEK) powders were selected for their chemical and fatigue resistance while maintaining excellent mechanical properties and dimensional stability at high temperatures. These biocompatible materials also provide processing advantages and can withstand repeated cleaning and sterilization.  
 
Surgical Coatings uses KetaSpire KT-820FP and KetaSpire KT-880FP fine powder (FP) PEEK grades to provide enhanced compatibility with electrostatic coatings in select electrosurgical applications. KetaSpire KT-820FP is a low-flow grade that offers a superior surface finish, while KetaSpire KT-880FP is a high-flow grade that easily fills and coats more complex geometries. Due to the high quality and consistency of the KetaSpire PEEK powders, Surgical Coatings can achieve coating thicknesses as fine as a thousandth of an inch (0.00254 in. /0.064516 mm). 
 
Increasingly, the coatings for electrosurgical applications need to withstand monopolar frequencies, high voltages and repeated cleaning and sterilization. During electrosurgery, electrical frequencies are used to make clean incisions, eliminating the need for surgical tools such as scalpels. To protect surgeons and patients from electrical currents, the metal tubes that are used can be powder coated with electrically insulating KetaSpire PEEK materials.  
 
“As the drive to develop new electrosurgical devices continues to accelerate, we need, more than ever, to deliver targeted, leading-edge solutions that best support our customers’ needs,” said James Morris, president and CEO of Surgical Coatings. “The KetaSpire PEEK powders we selected for this application are a case in point: these advanced materials allow us to deliver new electrosurgical technologies that can meet tough requirements and give our customers precisely what they need to succeed.”  
 
Solvay’s KetaSpire PEEK powders provide a uniform coating thickness to ensure consistent properties and mitigate risks. Compared to other commercial PEEK powders, Solvay’s materials have lower moisture content for faster cycle times and greater throughput, and they can reduce energy consumption during drying. Additional advantages include reduced outgassing, tighter tolerances, and fewer surface defects.  
 
Surgical Coatings wanted a supplier that would provide an exceptional level of service and help find the best possible solution from a portfolio of commercially available materials. Additional requirements included custom coloring capabilities to allow for improved aesthetics and the ability to precisely color match a company’s logo for brand identification. To that end, Solvay’s technical support team provided their extensive knowledge and expertise.    
 
“Solvay’s KetaSpire PEEK powders provided Surgical Coatings with the solution they needed to meet fast-growing demand in the medical marketplace for advanced electrically insulating materials,” said Jeff Hrivnak, global business manager for Healthcare at Solvay Specialty Polymers global business unit. “Our solution helped make this application a success and it differentiates Solvay from other PEEK suppliers. We are also pleased to announce that this is the first of what we expect to be many new electrosurgical applications that utilize our KetaSpire PEEK powders.”