Tubing Tip #14: Abrasion and Corrosion Resistance
If your application involves the movement of tubing or hose against other equipment, you’ll need to make sure that the tubing can withstand any abrasion against the equipment and that the equipment can withstand abrasion from the tubing. You’ll likely want to avoid a situation where vibrations or repeated motions cause friction. These movements can eventually wear the tubing. But when avoiding abrasive situations isn’t possible, the tubing material selected must be able to withstand the conditions.
Certain materials like durable polyurethane and smooth nylon handle abrasion better than others. The materials’ properties allow them to naturally withstand repetitive scraping or rubbing. Other materials and those that are tacky – silicone, for example – are better suited to applications that do not involve abrasive conditions. However, options like jacketing and custom compounding can help make these materials acceptable.
Corrosion resistance is another item to consider. Is the liquid in your application acidic? An industrial solvent? Petroleum based? If so, it will need to flow through tubing or hose that can withstand such chemical formulations. PVC is known for its corrosion resistance, as are fluoropolymers like PTFE, FEP, and PFA. Viton™ is a material that resists corrosion from various hydrocarbons.
Consider, too, the environment that the tubing will be in and whether corrosive fluids will contact the tubing. Will anything drip down onto it? Splash up? Could grease or oil used on other parts of the equipment (i.e., metal) affect the tubing?
For success in your application, ensure that the tubing under consideration is durable enough to withstand corrosion and abrasion yet still meets requirements you may have for flexibility, cleanliness, pressure, etc.
If you have questions about abrasion and corrosion resistant tubing, contact a NewAge Fluid Transfer Specialist at 215-526-2300 / 800-506-3924 or fill out the form below.
We’re happy to help you determine a tubing application solution.
You can find additional Tubing and Hose Buying Tips here.