Thermoplastics, Elastomers and Thermosets: Understanding the Materials Around Us and Their Uses in the Operating Theatres.

Modern healthcare and particularly the operating theatre, relies heavily on synthetic materials. Syringes, tubing, masks, packaging, and surgical instruments all depend on different polymers. However, not all polymer materials behave the same way. Broadly speaking, they fall into three categories: Thermoplastics, Elastomers, and Thermosets