Sunny, MCRamesh, PMohanan, PVGeorge, KE2017-03-102017-03-10201021 ,9;621-63110.1002/pat.1475https://dspace.sctimst.ac.in/handle/123456789/10058A comparative assessment of the performance properties of metallocene polyolefin (m-PO) with those of plasticized poly (vinyl chloride) (pPVC) and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer having 18% vinyl acetate content (EVA-18), the two common polymers used for flexible medical products, is carried out. The preliminary evaluation of the processability, mechanical properties, and thermal stability of the new material, m-PO is described. The processability parameters like mixing torque and melt viscosity of m-PO are found to be comparable with those of pPVC and EVA-18. Mechanical properties such as tensile strength, elongation at break, and tear strength (TS) of m-PO are much higher than that of pPVC and EVA-18. Thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) indicates that the thermal degradation of m-PO takes place only at temperatures above 340 degrees C and can be processed at 170 degrees C without much damage. Oxygen and carbon dioxide permeabilities of m-PO at three different temperatures (10, 25, and 40 degrees C) are evaluated and compared with those of pPVC and EVA-18. It could be seen that the permeabilities of both the gases for m-PO at three temperatures were lower than those of pPVC and EVA. Biological evaluation of m-PO is carried out by assessing its cytotoxicity, hemolytic property, and blood clotting initiation. The cytotoxicity studies indicate that m-PO is non-toxic to the monolayer of L929 mammalian fibroblast cell lines on direct contact or the exposure of its extract. Non-hemolytic property of m-PO by direct contact as well as test on extract is revealed both in static and in dynamic conditions. Blood clotting time experiments indicate that the initiation of blood clotting due to m-PO is faster than that of pPVC and EVA-18. Copyright (C) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Polymer Science