Plastic Tubing

Plastic tubing is constructed of many different plastic compounds for flow lines for fluids and gases in pneumatic, hydraulic, process, medical and many other specialized applications.  Tubing can be flexible or rigid, depending on the material and its purpose. Tubing listed here is generally smaller and less rigid than materials classified as hose or pipe.  Application, dimensions, performance specifications, material, features, and color are all important parameters to consider when specifying plastic tubing.

Common applications for plastic tubing include general purpose, aerospace, general chemical, corrosive or solvent chemical, coolant, cryogenic, food processing, high temperature or heating fluids, high viscosity, hydraulic fluid, marine, medical or pharmaceutical, oil or fuel, peristaltic pumping, pneumatic or compressed air, vacuum pneumatic, refrigerant, sanitary, slurry, and water.  Important dimensions to consider when selecting plastic tubing include design units, inside diameter, outside diameter, and wall thickness.  Choices for design units include English such as inches or fractions of an inch and metric such as centimeters or millimeters.

Important performance specifications to consider for plastic tubing include rated pressure, maximum vacuum, minimum bend radius, and temperature range.  The rated pressure is typically short-term burst pressure at 75° F.  Maximum rated vacuum is most frequently given in inches or mm of mercury referenced below one standard atmosphere.  Minimum bend radius is based on acceptable tubing cross-section deformation.  The temperature range is the full-required range of ambient operating temperature.  Common materials of construction for plastic tubing include EVA, fluororesin (PFA), nylon or polyamide, polyethylene or PEX, polyolefine, polypropylene (PP), PTFE, polyurethane or urethane, PVC, PVDF, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, stainless steel, Tygon, vinyl, and Viton. 

Features common to plastic tubing include anti-static, coiled, corrugated or convoluted, explosion proof, multi-element, multi-layered, reinforced, spark resistant, and sterilizable.  Anti-static tubing is conductive or semi-conductive to prevent buildup of static electricity.  Tubing can be coiled for flexibility and elasticity.  Tubing can contain corrugations, pleats, or spiral convolutions to increase flexibility and capacity for compression and elongation.  Explosion-proof devices have totally enclosed housings that are constructed to withstand internal explosion of a specified gas, vapor or dust.  Underwriter’s Laboratories (UL) governs several explosion-proof ratings.  A multi-element tube has more than one tube formed or adhered together in a flat or ribbon configuration.  Reinforced tubing is reinforced with fibers or banding.  Spark resistant tubing is constructed to maintain integrity in the presence of electrical discharge or sparking.  Some tubing may be sterilized; methods include an autoclave, dry heat, gamma irradiation, and chemical disinfectant.  Common plastic tubing colors include amber, black, blue, clear, gray, green, orange, red, white, yellow, violet, and multi-colored.  The opacity can be translucent or solid.

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