Custom Hose Materials Guide: How to Choose the Right Material for Your Application

In the fields of agricultural irrigation, industrial production, food processing, and medical equipment that require fluid transmission, the hose is a key component, and its stable performance is directly related to the safety and efficiency of the entire system. Different usage scenarios have different performance requirements for hoses, so customized hoses came into being. It can not only select the most suitable materials and structures according to the specific usage scenarios, but also ensure reliability and durability in long-term use, and ensure the safety and efficiency of system operation.

So, how to choose the hose that best suits your application needs from many materials? This article will systematically sort out the factors that need to be considered in the selection of customized hoses, and compare and apply common hose materials.

Key Factors Affecting Hose Material Selection

1. Operating Temperature Range

Different materials have different tolerances to temperature.

For example, PVC is suitable for use in normal temperature environments because it may become brittle or soft in high or low temperature environments. Silicone can be used in extreme temperature environments from -60°C to 200°C, and is suitable for the transmission of high-temperature steam or freezing media.

Therefore, the first step in material selection is to determine the temperature range of the application environment.

2. Medium Type

The properties of the medium transported in the hose determine the chemical compatibility of the material, so this is also an important factor to consider.

If the medium being transported is oil, fuel, etc., then NBR or fluororubber with good oil resistance should be selected to make the hose to avoid leakage or affect the medium transmission efficiency.

For the transportation of corrosive liquids such as acids, alkalis, or organic solvents, it is recommended to choose EPDM rubber or PTFE with excellent chemical resistance.

If the medium being transported is drinking water or food, then PVC or silicone materials that meet food grade standards (such as FDA, NSF certification) need to be selected.

According to different transport media, it is crucial to select the corresponding hose material, which can ensure the safety and efficiency of transmission.

3. Working Pressure

The selection of hose materials also needs to consider the working pressure of the application environment.

For high-pressure systems such as hydraulic equipment, reinforced rubber hoses with steel wire layers must be used. For negative pressure or suction application systems, such as industrial vacuum systems, spiral reinforced hoses with good anti-collapse performance should be considered.

4. Flexibility

The hose has excellent flexibility, which makes it widely used in applications with narrow spaces. For example, PU hose not only has good flexibility but also strong wear resistance, and is a common hose choice in automated machinery.

5. Durability

For outdoor or long-term use, the UV and ozone resistance of hose materials is particularly important. EPDM rubber exhibits excellent anti-aging properties and can therefore be widely used in automotive cooling systems and outdoor equipment.

6. Whether It Meets the Certification Requirements

Food processing, medical equipment, and pharmaceutical industries have strict hygiene and safety requirements for hose materials. For example, silicone hoses that meet FDA and USP certifications are very suitable for high-cleanliness application systems such as infusion and ventilators.

Common Hose Materials and Application Scenarios

The following is a comparison of the characteristics of several common hose materials and the industries they are suitable for.

1. PVC

Material properties: PVC is a widely used plastic material with good transparency, light weight, and cost advantages. It is highly corrosion-resistant and suitable for most neutral liquids and general chemicals. It can be flexibly molded in hose applications, with optional colors and a neat and beautiful appearance. PVC also has good mechanical strength and insulation, making it suitable for many daily application scenarios.

Applicable scenarios: PVC hoses are commonly used in household water pipes, agricultural irrigation, gardening, aquariums, and general industrial low-pressure delivery systems. It is suitable for environments where the fluid temperature does not change much and the requirements for hose strength and durability are moderate.

Disadvantages and selection suggestions: PVC is easy to soften at high temperatures and become brittle in low temperature environments. It is not suitable for long-term use in hot water or cold areas. If it is to be used in extreme climates or pipes with hot water passing through, other more temperature-resistant materials should be considered.

2. Silicone

Material properties: Silicone hose has excellent high-temperature performance and food-grade safety. The heat resistance range is generally -50℃ to 200℃, and it has good softness and resilience. The material is non-toxic and odorless, does not release harmful substances, and is particularly suitable for environments that require sanitation or biocompatibility. It is one of the ideal materials for the medical and food industries.

Applicable scenarios: Widely used in medical catheters, food and beverage processing equipment, laboratory equipment, biopharmaceutical pipelines and other industries. It is also suitable for occasions that require high temperature resistance, frequent disinfection or extremely high hygiene requirements.

Disadvantages and selection suggestions: The cost of silicone materials is relatively high, and its pressure resistance is average in high-pressure scenarios. If the pressure of the conveying medium is high, it is recommended to choose a reinforced silicone hose or a structural design with an external braided layer reinforcement.

3. NBR

Material properties: NBR has excellent oil resistance and can be in contact with petroleum liquids such as gasoline, diesel, hydraulic oil, etc., for a long time without swelling or corrosion. It also has good wear resistance and a certain degree of heat resistance (usually up to about 100°C). It has good mechanical properties and strong tear resistance and compression deformation resistance.

Applicable scenarios: Commonly used in systems that come into contact with oil media, such as automotive fuel pipelines, oil systems, engineering machinery, and lubrication equipment. It is also an ideal material for industrial hydraulic systems and oil pump connections.

Disadvantages and selection suggestions: NBR is not resistant to ozone, is prone to aging and cracking, and is not suitable for long-term exposure to sunlight or strong ultraviolet rays. If used in outdoor scenes, consider adding an anti-aging coating to the outer layer, or choose a composite structure hose.

4. EPDM

Material properties: EPDM has good resistance to hot water, acid, and alkali, and aging, and can resist corrosion from steam and most chemicals. The material itself has good elasticity and long life, and is stable under long-term high temperatures or outdoor conditions.

Applicable scenarios: Mainly used in cooling water pipes of HVAC systems, solar water heating systems, weak acid and alkali liquid transportation in chemical plants, building sealing projects, and other fields.

Disadvantages and selection suggestions: EPDM is not oil-resistant and should be avoided if the pipeline involves lubricating oil or fuel transmission. When used for complex chemical media, it is recommended to test in advance or consult the manufacturer to confirm compatibility.

5. PU

Material properties: PU hose has excellent wear resistance, softness and high resilience, and is lightweight, making it very suitable for equipment automation environments. It also has good pressure resistance and is suitable for medium pressure scenarios.

Applicable scenarios: Widely used in dust collection equipment, particle conveying systems, pneumatic tools, and transmission equipment in automated factories, especially suitable for working conditions with frequent movement, bending, or vibration.

Disadvantages and selection suggestions: PU has poor corrosion resistance to strong acids, alkalis, and certain solvents. If the conveying medium contains corrosive components, it is recommended to add a lining or use a special chemical hose. For dust conveying in an electrostatic environment, a conductive PU hose can also be selected.

6. PTFE

Material properties: PTFE has extremely high chemical stability and can resist corrosion from almost all acids, alkalis, and solvents. It is also resistant to high temperatures (up to 260°C) and low temperatures (-180°C), has good non-stickiness, and has an extremely low friction coefficient, making it suitable for the most demanding conveying tasks.

Applicable scenarios: Suitable for the transportation of highly corrosive fluids in laboratories, chemical plants, high-purity electronics, and pharmaceutical industries. It is also commonly used in gas or liquid systems with high cleanliness requirements.

Disadvantages and selection suggestions: PTFE is relatively expensive and has poor material flexibility. It is not suitable for pipelines with small bending radius requirements or frequent bending. If you need to balance flexibility and chemical stability, you can choose a corrugated PTFE hose or a structure with a coating design.

How to Choose the Hose Material That Best Suits Your Application?

When choosing a hose material, you need to consider the following aspects:

1. Medium properties: Make it clear whether the hose is being transported is oil, acid, alkali, water, gas, or powder. Different materials are suitable for different media.

2. Environmental conditions: Evaluate the temperature, pressure, outdoor use, exposure to the sun, etc,. of the use environment to ensure that the material has the corresponding weather resistance.

3. Industry standards: If used in food, medicine, and other fields, you need to pay attention to whether it complies with FDA, REACH, RoHS, NS,F and other certifications.

4. Service life: Not only the initial effect, but also the long-term performance, such as aging resistance and wear resistance, should be considered.

5. Professional advice: If you have any questions, you can communicate with the manufacturer to obtain material samples or customized solutions to reduce the cost of trial and error.

Conclusion

The material selection of custom hoses may seem simple, but it has far-reaching consequences. The right material selection can not only extend the product life and reduce maintenance costs, but also ensure the safe operation of the entire system. As a professional hose manufacturer, we recommend that customers communicate in depth with technicians at the beginning of the design to ensure that every meter of hose is used to its full potential and has reliable performance.

If you need samples or technical selection suggestions, please contact our engineering team for one-on-one service.