Freudenberg Performance Materials will be presenting a number of innovative solutions at the European Wound Management Association Conference (EWMA) from June 5-7 in Gothenburg, Sweden. These will include foams with an innovative direct coating of silicone adhesives, multilayer foam-fleece components with superabsorbent nonwovens, and more efficient PU foams. Visitors will find the Freudenberg experts at booth B06:22.

The components for wound dressings consist of polyurethane foam with a directly applied layer of silicone, which prevents the dressing from sticking to the wound. They continuously adapt to ensure optimal contact with the wound bed, reduce the complexity of the production process for the customer and have less impact on the environment. The adhesive properties of the silicone facilitate the application of the foam and, at the same time, do not stick to the wound when changing dressings. The Freudenberg solution works without additional layers of film or other liners with acrylic adhesive, which is required as a silicone carrier in conventional products.

The Freudenberg solution with a directly applied silicone layer has a number of concrete advantages:

• The wound dressings consist of an innovative PU foam and constantly adapt optimally to the wound bed; because they can expand evenly in all directions during the absorption of exudate, they provide greater flexibility.
• Freudenberg supplies the foam and the silicone components for easy removal from wounds directly to customers as a single product. This brings two clear advantages: one production step is eliminated entirely and the customer’s procurement process is optimized because they no longer need to purchase individual components from different suppliers.
• Because Freudenberg develops and produces the foams entirely in-house, top quality is guaranteed at all times. By integrating all process steps under one roof, the individual material properties can be optimally harmonized to achieve the highest possible performance.
• As a result of eliminating the need for film components, raw material use, energy consumption and waste are all reduced.

By combining hydrophilic PU foams and hydroactive nonwovens for wound dressings, Freudenberg has once again brought an innovative solution to the market. The multi-layer components with superabsorbent nonwovens significantly increase the absorption and retention performance of wound dressings. All components are optimally matched to each other. This is possible because Freudenberg is one of the few suppliers on the market to develop and manufacture the materials used and also to laminate them in-house.

Customers can choose between MDI- and TDI-based hydrophilic polyurethane foams. Freudenberg manufactures these high-performance multilayer materials in cleanrooms under ISO 13485 conditions.

Thanks to the newly developed high-performance formulation based on MDI polyurethane, Freudenberg offers a superior alternative to conventional TDI-based PU foams. As a component of wound dressings for chronic venous leg ulcers, the new MDI-based PU foam from Freudenberg absorbs wound fluids in just a few seconds. It also has a fluid retention capacity that is around 50% higher than that of the TDI foam and offers much greater strength in its wet state.

“All three innovations contribute to our goals of improving the wound healing process, reducing product complexity on the customer side and simplifying the supply chain,” explains Dr. Henk R. Randau, general manager Business Division Healthcare. Freudenberg Performance Materials has recently underlined this commitment with the establishment of the globally responsible Business Division Healthcare. This has replaced the previous regional organization.

Further medical solutions from Freudenberg Performance Materials include components for traditional wound care, elastic substrates for transdermal therapy (application of active ingredients via the skin) and state-of-the-art components for stoma care. Under the scaffolene brand, Freudenberg also offers bioresorbable nonwovens with a 3D structure into which active ingredients can be incorporated.