---
title: "What medical and personal care things are made of"
description: "10 medical and personal care objects broken down component by component, with the reason behind each material choice."
url: https://atoneplace.net/made-of/medical/
site: "At One Place"
---

# Medical and personal care — what they are made of

10 medical and personal care objects, broken down.

| Object | Made of |
| --- | --- |
| Condom | Dipped natural rubber latex, or synthetic polyisoprene or polyurethane for latex allergy — plus silicone lubricant. |
| Surgical mask | Three layers of polypropylene, of which only the electrostatically charged middle one does the filtering. |
| Diaper (nappy) | A superabsorbent polymer that holds many times its own weight in fluid, sandwiched between nonwoven plastic layers. |
| Contact lens | A water-swollen polymer gel — and the whole design problem is getting oxygen through it to the cornea. |
| Dental filling | Either a mercury-silver amalgam or a light-cured resin packed with glass — and the resin shrinks as it sets. |
| Tampon | Compressed cotton, rayon or a blend, with a withdrawal cord and either a cardboard or plastic applicator. |
| Eyeglass lens | Almost never glass — usually CR-39, polycarbonate or a high-index plastic, under several thin coatings. |
| Adhesive bandage (plaster) | A plastic or fabric backing with pressure-sensitive adhesive, and a pad faced with a film that will not stick to the wound. |
| Artificial hip | A titanium or cobalt-chrome stem, a ceramic or metal ball, and a crosslinked polyethylene socket liner that is the wear surface. |
| Syringe | A polypropylene barrel and plunger with a rubber tip seal, and a stainless steel needle on a standard taper. |

- [Condom](https://atoneplace.net/made-of/condom/) — Dipped natural rubber latex, or synthetic polyisoprene or polyurethane for latex allergy — plus silicone lubricant.
- [Surgical mask](https://atoneplace.net/made-of/surgical-mask/) — Three layers of polypropylene, of which only the electrostatically charged middle one does the filtering.
- [Diaper (nappy)](https://atoneplace.net/made-of/diaper/) — A superabsorbent polymer that holds many times its own weight in fluid, sandwiched between nonwoven plastic layers.
- [Contact lens](https://atoneplace.net/made-of/contact-lens/) — A water-swollen polymer gel — and the whole design problem is getting oxygen through it to the cornea.
- [Dental filling](https://atoneplace.net/made-of/dental-filling/) — Either a mercury-silver amalgam or a light-cured resin packed with glass — and the resin shrinks as it sets.
- [Tampon](https://atoneplace.net/made-of/tampon/) — Compressed cotton, rayon or a blend, with a withdrawal cord and either a cardboard or plastic applicator.
- [Eyeglass lens](https://atoneplace.net/made-of/eyeglass-lens/) — Almost never glass — usually CR-39, polycarbonate or a high-index plastic, under several thin coatings.
- [Adhesive bandage (plaster)](https://atoneplace.net/made-of/adhesive-bandage/) — A plastic or fabric backing with pressure-sensitive adhesive, and a pad faced with a film that will not stick to the wound.
- [Artificial hip](https://atoneplace.net/made-of/artificial-hip/) — A titanium or cobalt-chrome stem, a ceramic or metal ball, and a crosslinked polyethylene socket liner that is the wear surface.
- [Syringe](https://atoneplace.net/made-of/syringe/) — A polypropylene barrel and plunger with a rubber tip seal, and a stainless steel needle on a standard taper.