Development of a compression moulding process for the manufacturing of artificial polymer heart valves

Abstract

In this study a controllable compression moulding process has been developed for the manufacturing of variable thickness polyurethane heart valves. An experimental facility was established for the compression moulding process. Additive manufactured polymer moulds (AM) were used to determine the suitable design configuration and test process parameters for the successful manufacturing of polyurethane heart valves. Experiments were carried out with a polyurethane solution (PC3595A-B20 and PC3595A) and solvents (N, N-Dimethylacetamide and Tetrahydrofuran) to investigate the effect of changing compression moulding parameters. Due to the capability of the compression mould to produce thin-walled parts with controlled thickness, experimental results demonstrated that a well-controlled compression moulding technique is a feasible alternative to the dip moulding process. The AM polymer moulds demonstrated that this process could be used in an automated experimental facility to create a working prototype polyurethane heart valve. The AM polymer moulds demonstrated that it is possible to obtain a suitable design configuration of a mould layout and to create a working prototype polyurethane heart valve.