The Best Plastic Tubing for Fluid Transfer Applications
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Plastic Tubing Materials for High-Pressure and High-Temperature Fluids
Fluid transfer can be hazardous and demanding, and therefore requires specific types of tubing materials. Tubing must withstand exposure to aggressive chemicals, extreme temperatures, and challenging environments. Selecting the right tubing is critical to maintaining performance and ensuring safe fluid transfer operations.Keep reading to learn more about the best plastic tubing materials for fluid transfer applications.
Chemical-Resistant Plastic Tubing Material Options
Polyethylene Tubing
Polyethylene tubing (PE) is one of the most common tubing materials. Known for its excellent flexibility and corrosion resistance, PE tubing can resist many acids, alkalis, and solvents while remaining lightweight. Its flexibility and versatility make polyethylene tubing potentially suitable for a wide range of fluid transfer applications in various industries. PE tubing is available in several styles, including LLDPE, Liquiflex, and EVA, offering numerous options and helping you find the best solution for your needs.Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Tubing
PVC tubing is resistant to many acids and bases, making it a popular tubing material for fluid transfer. Flexible PVC tubing is non-oxidizing and non-contaminating, helping extend its lifespan and ensure contamination-free fluid transfer. Our PVC tubing is crystal clear for easy visualization of fluid flow and is compatible with many oils, fuels, gases, and acids, making it a strong choice material for a number of fluid transfer applications.Nylon Tubing
Made from polyamide resin, nylon tubing is ultra-soft, highly flexible, and lightweight, with improved resistance to temperature and pressure. It maintains durability and mechanical strength even under stressors such as vibration or continuous exposure to fluids. Nylon tubing is resistant to many chemicals, including solvents, alkalis, oils, grease, petroleum, and fungal growth. These qualities make nylon tubing a strong, durable, and stable solution for fluid transfer operations.PVDF Tubing
Polyvinylidene fluoride tubing (PVDF), is designed for chemical applications. With high electrochemical stability, excellent chemical resistance, and long-term durability, PVDF is an exceptional material for fluid transfer tubing. It balances a lightweight build with mechanical strength and can withstand aggressive chemicals over the long term. PVDF is also FDA-approved for food and beverage applications, demonstrating its reliability for contamination-free operations.FEP Tubing
FEP tubing, also known as fluorinated ethylene propylene tubing, is known for its blend of high heat resistance, coupled with excellent chemical resistance. FEP is a transparent thermoplastic material specifically designed for enhanced temperature and chemical resistance. It can withstand exposure to a wide range of corrosive, aggressive fluids and maintains its flexibility under a broad operating range. With almost no moisture absorption, FEP is an excellent solution for fluid transfer applications requiring durability and purity.Polyurethane Tubing
Polyurethane tubing (PE) is one of the most versatile tubing products available. Naturally anti-fungal and resistant to chemicals and abrasion, PE tubing maintains excellent flexibility, kink resistance, and durability even under harsh conditions. It has low gas permeability, is potentially resistant to many chemicals, water, fuel, oil, and fungus, and is available in a wide range of colors, lengths, and sizes. These characteristics make polyurethane a reliable, versatile solution for fluid transfer applications.What Types of Flexible Plastic Tubing Have Good Chemical Resistance?
Several types of flexible plastic tubing offer good to excellent chemical resistance. For example, flexible vinyl tubing provides some degree of chemical resistance and is well-suited to less demanding applications. LLDPE (linear low-density polyethylene), FEP, and PVDF have excellent chemical resistance and are often chosen for more demanding operations.However, every application is unique. There is no universal tubing material that works for every project. The specific chemicals involved, operating temperatures, and pressure requirements of a fluid transfer application should all be carefully considered and evaluated when selecting flexible tubing. Freelin-Wade offers free tubing samples so you can thoroughly test and validate your selection prior to making a final decision.
Plastic Tubing Chemical Resistance Chart
View our helpful plastic tubing chemical resistance chart, which serves as a guide for evaluating chemical and material compatibility for tubing products.What to Consider When Selecting Tubing for Fluid Transfer Applications
In addition to choosing tubing materials with high chemical resistance, several other factors must also be considered. These factors can significantly impact tubing performance, safety, and longevity:- Temperature range: Tubing materials have different performance and capacities under extreme temperatures.
- Length of exposure: Consider whether your tubing will be under constant or intermittent chemical exposure.
- Presence of internal and external stressors: Pressure, vibration, and environmental conditions can affect tubing performance.
- Chemical concentration: Highly concentrated chemicals often require tubing with higher chemical resistance than chemicals with lower concentrations.