Medical Device Surface Finishing needs Cryogenic Services
The medical device industry sets high standards and tight tolerances on all manufactured products. One specification, and maybe the most important, is surface finish. Unwanted flash or burrs from manufacturing can cause issues in assembly or in-service operation. For plastic, rubber and silicone components, cryogenic deflashing and deburring can help improve and eliminate surface finish issues with speed, efficiency and consistency while not damaging the structural integrity of the material.
Cleanliness and Medical Device Surface Finishing
Cryogenic deflashing removes the excess material (flash or flashing) that’s left on a part’s surface by injection, extrusion or compression molding. Cryogenic deburring removes the rough edges or raised areas (burrs) left behind by CNC machining. These processes are different, but both rely upon ultra-cold temperatures. Thanks to plastic media as small as 0.015”, cryogenic deflashing and deburring can even improve the surface finish of small cross-holes and inner part geometries.
When cryogenic deflashing and deburring are complete, a post-tumble cycle helps to remove all of the excess media from parts. Cleanliness is also ensured through the use of mild and medium surfactants that remove any residual media, flash or burrs. Surfactants, a category of compounds that are used in an array of cleaning products, lower the surface tension of parts and promote the wetting of surfaces.
Structural Deterioration and Medical Device Surface Finishing
Cryogenic deflashing and deburring will not cause the premature structural deterioration of medical device components. These cryogenic services have cycle times of 20 minutes or less and are performed at temperatures above the material’s freeze temperature – and never below it. Liquid nitrogen is used, but it never touch the parts. Rather, the liquid nitrogen is converted into gaseous nitrogen that cools the chamber where the parts have been inserted.
For better medical device surface finishing, the Cryogenic Institute of New England invites you to learn more about its value-added Nitrofreeze® processes. If your part is a viable candidate for our fast, consistent, and cost-effective technology, we can perform sampling for proof-of-concept. The consultation is free of charge. To learn more, contact Nitrofreeze at the phone number and email listed below.
(508) 459-7447 x109
info@nitrofreeze.com