PTFE hose is one of those things that you’ve probably heard of at some point in your life; but unless you’ve actually needed to use one, for whatever reason, you won’t fully know or understand what it is. To put it simply, a PTFE hose is a just a hollow tube that is designed to carry gases and liquids – such as chemicals, water, steam, and air – from one location to another. This tube is lined with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and, as a result, it demonstrates a number of useful properties and is suitable for a wide range of applications. For example, PTFE tubing is incredibly resistant to extreme temperatures, pressure, and corrosion, thus making it a suitable option for the transfer of chemicals. It also demonstrates low-permeability, thus acting as an effective barrier against vapours and liquids.
Dependent upon its specific construction and characteristics, PTFE lined hose can be split into a number of different categories. Here we take a look at each, in turn, exploring their main properties, advantages, and uses.
PTFE Convoluted Hose
Convoluted hose is, essentially, a PTFE tube that is constructed from a series of helical convolutions. These convolutions create excellent flexibility and kink-resistance and make the tube better suited to applications were tight bends and turns in the tube are necessary. There are three different types of PTFE convoluted hose currently available and these include:
- “Tube Only” PTFE Convoluted Hose
This does exactly what it says on the tin. It is made from one base layer of PTFE tubing and, as a result, it is extremely lightweight and suitable for relatively low-pressure applications.
- Polymer Braided PTFE Convoluted Hose
In this case, the base convoluted tube is surrounded by a sheath of orange polypropylene monofilaments. It is still lightweight and flexible; however, it can tolerate much higher pressures and demonstrates excellent resistance to chemicals.
- Stainless Steel Braided PTFE Convoluted Hose
This is the most hard-wearing and effective variety of convoluted hose. The hose itself is surrounded by a sheath of tough stainless steel wires and, as a result, it offers maximum pressure resistance, extreme chemical resistance, and effectively protects against any knocks and abrasions.
PTFE Smooth Bore Hose
In comparison to convoluted hose, PTFE Smooth Hose has a very smooth and seamless finish. It is typically constructed from just one single piece of PTFE tubing, thus allowing it to be as flexible and non-porous as is possible; however, it does come in a selection of different sizes and can be easily customised to meet your individual needs and requirements. For example, a smooth bore hose can be easily fitted with a braided stainless steel sheath – thus improving its ability to withstand physical damage and extreme high-pressures and making it suitable for a vast range of applications.
Contact Proflex Hose
If you would like further information on the different types of PTFE hose and its many applications, specialist provider – Proflex Hose– is here to help. Their website is full of useful information on both smooth and convoluted hose and their team of staff will happily provide tailored advice on the best type of PTFE tubing for you. Check out their website today or give them a call on 01257 22010.
team of staff will happily provide tailored advice on the best type of PTFE tubing for you. Check out their websitetoday or give them a call on 01257 22010.