Why Ultem® for reusable devices

For reusable medical and dental tools, materials must survive harsh disinfectants and repeated sterilization cycles without creeping, cracking, or discoloring. Ultem® (PEI) delivers a rare mix of high heat resistance (~217 °C Tg), strength, and dimensional stability, ideal for tight-tolerance, machined handles, housings, spacers, and jigs.

Studies on healthcare-focused Ultem® grades show strong retention of mechanical properties and minimal color shift after hundreds of hydrogen-peroxide plasma and steam-autoclave cycles, directly addressing longevity for clinic use. That enables ergonomic, lightweight handles for scalpels, staplers, and dental tools—without resorting to metal.

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Typical machined parts we supply

• Instrument handles and body shells with knurling or grip features
• Fixture blocks and alignment jigs for sterilizable trays
• Electrical-isolation spacers inside diagnostic housings
• Valve seats and manifold covers for fluid-handling tools (when PEI’s chemistry fits)
  These leverage Ultem®’s stiffness, low creep, and dielectric strength to keep instruments precise across cycles.

How Enplas helps

Enplas extrudes Ultem® stock shapes and CNC-machines to drawing, so you get a vertically integrated supply with traceable resin grades and tight tolerances on thin-wall details. We advise on:

• Grade selection (e.g., unfilled Ultem® 1000 vs. glass-reinforced for higher rigidity)
• Sterilization-aware design (wall sections, fillets, color stability)
• Machining strategies for surface finish and flatness on long, slender handles (feeds/speeds, stress-relief)

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