Plastic Tubing
Formulated for resistance to flex fatigue and abrasion, plastic tubingis less permeable than rubber tubing. It is available in a variety of materials for general lab use or more specialised applications and in various lengths and inner/outer bore diameters to suit your needs.
What applications can I use plastic tubing for?
Some applications where flexible tubing is required are transfer lines for contamination fluid control, hydraulics, protective jacketing, vacuum pump and diaphragm pump feeds and discharge, refrigeration, water and fluid lines, food and beverage, instrumentation, research laboratories, agriculture, material handling, air and gas lines, chemical lines and pharmaceuticals.
The tubing flexibility depends on the type of plastic from which it is made. For example, PVC and PU are very flexible, whilst PE, FEP and silicone tubing are harder and less flexible, though all are more flexible than rubber or metal.
Types of plastic tubing
- PVC – lightweight and flexible, will retain its bore on bending and can be sterilized up to 121°C
- Silicone – ideal where a hard wearing material is needed, including transfer of liquids or higher temperature environments
- LDPE- good for general low pressure and temperature, instrumentation, corrosive atmosphere and food processing
- PTFE – offers excellent chemical and temperature resistance properties
- PE – flexible, lightweight, durable and corrosion resistant, used for a wide range of liquid, gas and fluid transfer applications
- FEP – a clear, small diameter tubing, the economical choice for chemical resistance and broad temperature exposure
- PEEK – high performance polymer, with mechanical and chemical resistance and highly resistant to thermal degradation