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About Rubber Tubing
Rubber tubing can be made from natural rubber, commonly
pure gum rubber or latex rubber, or a number of synthetic compounds – silicone,
EPDM,
Viton®, neoprene, polyurethane, polysulfide, butyl, SBR, vinyl, nitrile,
acrylic or polyacrylate, isoprene, etc. Rubber tube manufacturers offer general-purpose
tubing that satisfies a variety of flow applications for liquids or gases.
Many also fabricate specialized rubber tubing to meet customers’ particular
needs. Rubber tubing can transport a range of liquid material, such as coolants,
hydraulic fluids, slurries, water and salt water, plus highly viscose matter
like greases and syrups. The material make-up of the rubber tubing determines
its properties and, in turn, its suitable uses.
When making a selection from a rubber tube manufacturer, the most important characteristics
to consider are pressure and vacuum capacity, resistance to acids or other solvents,
flexibility or rigidity, bend radius, temperature range and dimensions, which
include outside diameter (OD), inside diameter (ID) and wall thickness. Types
of rubber tubing are utilized in the aerospace, chemical, cryogenic, laboratory,
sanitary, refrigeration, air conditioning, oil/fuel, food processing, medical/surgical
or pharmaceutical environments and in applications involving hydraulics, pneumatics,
processing and more. Rubber tubing manufacturers can make their products resistant
to high ambient temperatures and corrosion. For pumping, air compression and
vacuum applications, manufacturers offer rubber tubing with superior elasticity
and toughness.
Rubber tube manufacturers are available to assist customers in attaining the
right type of rubber tubing for their specific needs by offering standard or
custom rubber tubing. They can produce rubber tubing with cloth impressed on
the exterior to ensure non-slip grip even in slick conditions. Highly resilient
rubber material is necessary when a tight seal is needed for push-on fittings
or glass tubing. Rubber tubing with a thick wall (measuring at least half of
the ID) is essential for vacuum and pumping applications, such as in air pumps
or aspirators. Thick-walled rubber tubing is ideal for vacuum connections of
no more than a foot in length, though tubes with an ID of 1 1⁄2” or
more may need to be reinforced. For longer vacuum applications, reinforced PVC
tubing is a great option.
Common colors for rubber tubing are red, black, tan and yellow. It can also be
clear, translucent or multi-colored. Natural latex rubber makes for the most
vibrant colors, which include the primary colors, black, pastels, fluorescents,
amber, bronze, silver, plum, fuschia, teal, etc. Besides industrial, scientific
and medical applications, rubber tubing is being utilized in sports and recreation,
fitness, rehab and therapy. The range of rubber tubing that rubber tube manufacturers
offer includes conductive or semi-conductive rubber tube, spark resistant rubber
tubing, explosion proof rubber tube, sterilized tubes, reinforced tubes, multi-layered
and multi-element tubes, coiled or spiraled rubber tubing and corrugated rubber
tubes. They also might provide complementary products such as connectors, expansion
joints, valves, clamps, flow indicators, disconnects and tube cutters.
Featured
Articles
http://www.rubber-stichting.info/natuurrubber/Natuurrubber%2017.pdf
http://www.azom.com/details.asp?ArticleID=2101
Types of Rubber Tubing
- , or semi-conductive rubber
tube, does not allow static electricity build-up.
- is made of one of the most economical and rapidly growing
synthetic rubbers (Ethylene-Propylene rubber or EPDM) offering a number
of key qualities: resistance to heat, ozone, oxidation, weather, flame,
electricity, acids, alcohols, alkalies, ketones, abrasion, tearing,
etc.
- is designed to handle gas, vapor and
dust bursts.
- is typically used in medical applications because it holds
up to recurring sterilizations. Naturally, its amber translucency allows
visible liquid flow, and its smoothness, elasticity and memory after
repeated stretching make it useful in many applications.
- , or natural latex rubber
tubing, also referred to as surgical tubing, exercise or fitness
tube, gum rubber tubing,
dipped tubing or just “stretchy tubing,” has superior combined
elasticity, strength and recovery qualities and color vibrancy over
synthetic rubber tubing. Plus, natural rubber requires less energy
to be produced.
- are produced to provide
extra strength through the integration of fibers or banding. Also,
in vacuum applications,
rubber tube with interior diameters of 1 1⁄2” or more will
likely need additional metal reinforcing wire.
- is used for the reliable transportation of water, steam,
oil, chemicals and drink, such as in beer and milk processing, from
one point to another. It is quite reinforced with either textile braiding,
spiral wiring or metal embedding, or a combination of any or all of
these.
- , or rubber pressure tubing, has seamless, flexible,
acid-proof, heavy-wall properties that make it great of vacuum applications.
- offers flexibility, high purity, a long service life
and resistance to chemicals, temperature fluctuations and abrasions.
It is often used as sanitary tubing.
- is made to stand firm against electrical
discharge.
- is disinfected using dry heat, gamma irradiation
or chemical treating. Medical or surgical tubing commonly comes sterile
and in small diameters.
- is made of a brand name fluoroelastomer known for extraordinary
heat resistance and withstanding caustic fuels and chemicals.
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