Elastomer molding for endoscope
The invention provides a flexible tube for an endoscope, which is excellent in elasticity (impact resilience), has suitable flexibility and also has chemical resistance. Disclosed is a flexible tube for an endoscope including a flexible-tube material covered thereon with a jacket, wherein the jacket contains two or more thermoplastic polyester elastomers crosslinked therein.
1. An elastomer molding comprising a first thermoplastic polyester elastomer comprising a hard segment composed of polybutylene terephthalate, a second thermoplastic polyester elastomer comprising a hard segment composed of polybutylene naphthalate, and a carbodiimide compound as a crosslinking agent,
wherein the first thermoplastic polyester elastomer is crosslinked with the second thermoplastic polyester elastomer, and
the elastomer molding further comprises a plasticizer.
2. The elastomer molding according to claim 1 , wherein an average molecular weight of the carbodiimide compound is 3000 or more.
3. The elastomer molding according to claim 1 , wherein an average molecular weight of the carbodiimide compound is 10000 or more.
4. The elastomer molding according to claim 1 , wherein an average molecular weight of the carbodiimide compound is 15000 or more.
5. The elastomer molding according to claim 1 , wherein plasticizer is a compound selected from the group consisting of fatty ester, glycol, glycerin, epoxy and polyester, or a combination thereof.
6. The elastomer molding according to claim 1 , wherein the plasticizer is selected from epoxy compound.
7. A jacket for covering the surface of a flexible tube for an endoscope, wherein the jacket is made of the elastomer molding as defined in claim 1 .
8. The jacket according to claim 7 , wherein an average molecular weight of the carbodiimide compound is 3000 or more.
9. The jacket according to claim 7 , wherein an average molecular weight of the carbodiimide compound is 10000 or more.
10. The jacket according to claim 7 , wherein an average molecular weight of the carbodiimide compound is 15000 or more.
11. The jacket according to claim 7 , wherein the plasticizer is a compound selected from the group consisting of fatty ester, glycol, glycerin, epoxy and polyester, or a combination thereof.
12. The jacket according to claim 7 , wherein the plasticizer is selected from epoxy compound.
13. A flexible tube for an endoscope, which is covered with a jacket, wherein the jacket is made of the elastomer molding as defined in claim 1 .
14. The flexible tube according to claim 13 , wherein an average molecular weight of the carbodiimide compound is 3000 or more.
15. The flexible tube according to claim 13 , wherein an average molecular weight of the carbodiimide compound is 10000 or more.
16. The flexible tube according to claim 13 , wherein an average molecular weight of the carbodiimide compound is 15000 or more.
17. The flexible tube according to claim 13 , wherein the plasticizer is a compound selected from the group consisting of fatty ester, glycol, glycerin, epoxy and polyester, or a combination thereof.