Tip #3: Temperatures
Can the tubing or hose you’re considering withstand the temperature of the product traveling through it, as well as the temperature of the environment it’s in? You need to be aware of both the temperature operating within the tubing or hose and the degree of cold or heat surrounding it.
Several things should be investigated when it comes to tubing, hose and temperatures. Is the product going through the tubing a liquid or gas that may experience a temperature change? Is it a dry or granular material that can better absorb such a change? Perhaps the tubing is being used as a protective sleeve and contains electrical wiring. What are the temperatures involved on the inside of the tubing?
Now consider the temperature of the environment that system is in. Is it an interior room that’s kept at a constant 72°F (22°C) with low humidity? Might it lie next to other equipment that throws off heat (and if so, how much and how often)? Maybe the hose or tubing is used outdoors and subject to heat, cold, variable sunlight, rain and wind.
Will the tubing need to remain flexible below freezing? Some materials – fluoropolymer, for instance – can withstand temperatures as low as ‑450°F, but their flexibility is limited in the form of straight tubing. A product like AdvantaPure’s ultra low temperature silicone tubing may suit a below-freezing application well, as it remains flexible to ‑169°F.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the higher the temperature, the less pressure the tubing or hose can handle. For example, your application may be well served with 1/4” I.D. x 1/2” O.D. silicone tubing that’s conveying water at 200°F and has a working pressure of 15 psi at 70°F. However, if the water temperature increases to 300°F, your pressure handling capabilities will decrease. Reinforced silicone hose or a different tubing material must then be considered.
You can find part one and two of our Top 20 Tubing and Hose Buying Tips here.
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