Silicone rubber is well-known for its versatility, resilience, and durability. No wonder you’ll find it in numerous industrial, household, and recreational scenarios.
One particular material you can make out of silicone rubber is flexible silicone tubings. These materials serve as essential parts of countless devices, equipment, and products.
In this article, we’re going to look at the features that make silicone tubing conventional and practical in many applications. We’ll also dive deep into its types and uses across a wide range of industries.
1. What is Silicone Tubing?
Silicone tubings are simply silicone rubber molded into the shape of an elongated tube. It’s one of many materials you can shape out of silicone rubber.
You can implement silicone tubings into many uses, including those in the automotive, food, and medical sectors.
2. Silicone Tubing Features
To understand the characteristics of silicone tubings, we’ll have to look at the material from which it’s made – silicone rubber. This elastomer is superior to plastic and many of its rubber counterparts. It can perform at extreme temperatures (-60°C – 200°C) without failure.
Additionally, it possesses enough flexibility to be stretched without breaking. It can withstand outdoor elements like ozone, UV rays, and oxygen for long periods. It’s also chemically inert and has exceptional electrical properties. All of this translates into a high-quality elastomer with long service life.
These remarkable properties allow silicone tubings to display the following features:
Exceptional Strength and Flexibility
Silicone tubes are flexible enough for sharp bends and wraps. And while highly flexible, they also possess exceptional tear strength. You can stretch these materials without breaking them, making them perfect for demanding, heavy-duty functions.
Non-Toxic
Unlike plastics and other rubbers, silicone rubber is widely recognized for its non-toxicity. This elastomer is chemically inert and stable. And it doesn’t react when in contact with food and human skin, making it ideal for food and medical-grade scenarios.
Performs at a Broad Temperature Range
This is perhaps one of the most notable features of silicone tubing. It can effectively function well below freezing temperatures (as low as -60°C). On the flip side, it can also withstand high temperatures, with a limit of 200°C to 250°C.
Resists Environmental Conditions
Silicone tubings will have no trouble operating outdoors while constantly exposed to harmful environmental elements. These materials can resist the effects of UV rays, ozone, and thermal oxidation.
Translucency
You have the option to have your silicone tubes manufactured translucent instead of opaque or colored. Translucent tubings are ideal for many functions. Ideally, you want to opt for transparent tubings when you constantly need to see the tube’s insides.
3. Types of Silicone Tubings
You can get silicone tubings in different grades with varying structures and properties. But these end products fall into one of three broad categories: General purpose, high pressure, and food/medical grade.
Of course, whichever category a silicone tubing may fall into, it still possesses the inherent qualities of silicone rubber. These qualities include temperature resistance, tear strength, environmental resistance, etc.
3.1 General-Purpose Silicone Tubings
General-purpose silicone tubings are ideal for applications that don’t need high-pressure hoses. You can also use it for functions that don’t require high compound purity levels. In other words, general-purpose silicone tubings are for typical, everyday use.
You’ll see it in industrial applications and domestic and recreational functions. These include home appliances, automobiles, and industrial equipment.
3.2 High-Pressure Silicone Tubings
As the name suggests, high-pressure silicone tubes are constantly exposed to high pressures. These materials are ideal for functions involving suctions and pressurized gases.
For optimal functioning, these materials are equipped with polyester or wire braids. These reinforcements ensure the silicone tubes resist flattening or expansion.
3.3 Food/Medical Grade Silicone Tubings
Silicone rubbers are chemically inert, making them easy to sterilize and clean. It’s also non-toxic and biocompatible. It doesn’t initiate a harmful response to living tissues and food ingredients.
These properties make silicone tubings sought-after in the food and healthcare industries. It’s widely used for gaskets, sealings, and other functions requiring safe fluid transfer.
4. Common Applications for Silicone Tubings
Silicone tubing applications are wide-ranging. Let’s have a look at some of the most common use cases of this practical material:
Food Processing
There is no shortage of uses for silicone tubings In the food and drink industry. The most notable use would be for safe transfers of edible fluids.
Silicone tubes have chemical inertness. So they will not taint the fluids passing through them. You can use them as beverage dispensers, dairy tubings, and wine hoses, to name a few.
Healthcare
Higher-grade silicone tubings are often used in medical devices. Some of these devices are medical implants, catheters, and feeding tubes. This extensive medical application is thanks to silicone rubber’s biocompatibility and non-toxicity.
Automotive
Cars are no stranger to essential fluids that must pass from one point to another. These fluids are responsible for keeping a car at optimal operation.
For many automobile tubing purposes, silicone rubber is the ideal choice. It’s resistant to high temperatures and moisture. So it can be used as radiator and coolant hoses, heaters, air sleeves, and more.
Electronics Industry
The electronics industry also has a high demand for silicone rubber tubings. Electrical devices have many components that require insulation. When employed, silicone tubing can prevent damage to sensitive parts from electrical and heat exposure.
Silicone tubes are widely used for electrical sleeving. As you know, sleeves are used for electrical insulation across various temperatures.
Aviation
Silicone tubings and housings are used extensively in many functions in the aviation industry. This is because of silicone’s exceptional physical properties. It can withstand pressure changes as the plane flies at varying altitudes and elevations.
You’ll see silicone tubes used in engines and other aircraft systems. It’s also common for them to be employed on safety equipment, like breathing apparatuses.
These industries are just among the many that rely on silicone tubings. It’s not surprising to find them in functions that require non-toxicity, like water purification. Or those that depend on strong material properties, like high-pressure, deep sea applications.
5. Work With a Reliable Silicone Rubber Manufacturer
Ready to produce your silicone tubings? It’s best to work with a reliable manufacturer of silicone rubber. At GX Silicon, we invest heavily in extensive R&D to ensure exceptional product quality.
We offer HTV silicone rubber for a wide variety of purposes. Our selection includes medical/food-grade, general-purpose, and high-pressure silicone tubes. If you need more information, feel free to contact us at info@gxsilicon.com. You can also give us a quick call at +86-0755-27908940.
