30. Apr 2026
Freudenberg develops silicone–PU foam technology for advanced wound care
Freudenberg Performance Materials has introduced a new silicone foam technology for advanced wound care, combining polyurethane (PU) foam structures with engineered silicone coatings to address long-standing performance trade-offs in medical dressings.
The company’s Tacnera platform is designed for silicone foam dressings used on shallow, moderately exuding wounds, where PU foams are widely valued for their absorbency, softness and flexibility.
At the core of the development is a hybrid material system that integrates PU foam with a proprietary coating architecture and silicone gel layers. According to the company, the approach is intended to resolve the industry’s “adhesion–trauma dilemma” — balancing secure fixation with atraumatic removal.
Conventional silicone foam dressings typically rely on a single adhesive layer, forcing a compromise between strong adhesion and the risk of skin damage during removal. Freudenberg’s solution instead uses two silicones within one structure: a higher-adhesion formulation at the border for fixation, and a softer silicone in the wound-contact zone to protect tissue and minimise pain.
From a materials perspective, the PU foam plays a central functional role. Open-cell polyurethane foams are commonly used in wound dressings to absorb exudate, maintain a moist healing environment and provide cushioning. The Tacnera system builds on this by introducing a patterned (rather than continuous) silicone coating, improving conformability and enabling better fluid management across the foam structure.
Freudenberg says this engineered interface allows the dressing to contour more closely to the wound bed, reducing dead space and improving clinical performance, while maintaining flexibility for patient mobility.
The development also has implications for converters and OEMs in the medical textiles and polyurethane processing sectors. Rather than requiring multi-step lamination and coating processes, Tacnera is positioned as a production-ready material system, potentially reducing development time, technical risk and supply chain complexity for finished dressing manufacturers.
Beyond silicone foam dressings, the company indicated it is continuing to develop related PU-based wound care materials, including next-generation polyurethane foams and superabsorbent nonwovens aimed at improving exudate handling and wound cleaning performance.
Marketing authorisation for the Tacnera-based dressing technology in Europe is expected in summer 2026, with the product targeting the premium segment of the advanced wound care market.
Photo: a graphical representation of Tacnera © Freudenberg Performance Materials