Medical Dip Molding

Piper has been dip molding medical components for over 40 years!

Piper has been dip molding parts for medical device manufacturers for over four decades. We are very good at it, and have enormous production capability.

Medical dip molding is a sub-process of standard dip molding where a mold (or mandrel) is dipped into a polymer and the part forms on the outside of the mandrel. For medical components made from plastisol, (the thermoplastic liquid polymer,) Piper uses stainless steel mandrels because of their stability.  These mandrels are ganged up on a handling rack.

The rack is preheated uniformly, then carefully dipped into the plastisol, using a pre-programmed dip profile, for a specified amount of time. The newly formed parts are then withdrawn from the liquid PVC, again using a pre-programmed withdraw profile, post heated, and then cooled. When cool enough the medical components are stripped off the mandrels.

Things to consider when dip molding medical components:

  • Clarity – for clear parts, there can be no micro-bubbles and the mandrels and raw material must be sufficient for the desired clarity.
  • Mold Release – In some cases, mold release can interfere with the subsequent assembly and biocompatibility requirements.
  • Blemishes – Runs, Blobs, Sags, or anything on the outside of a medical part are causes for rejection.
  • Foreign Material – Any foreign matter, embedded in the wall of a molded part, especially if it’s translucent or clear, may be cause for rejection.
  • Biocompatibility – In some cases, depending upon specific requirements, certain chemical constituents are not allowed.  (e.g. phthalates.)
Piper Plastics Corp. has been dip molding and dip coating items for the medical device industry since 1972. Give us a call for your next project!
Dip Molded Nasal Cannula
Dip Molded Pilot Balloons
Dip Molded Universal "Y" Connectors
Dip Molded Enema Tips
Dip Molded Spring-Reinforced Tubes
Dip Molded Medical Device Balloons
Dip Molded Medical Connectors
Dip Molded Stethoscope Tubing
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