Application of Silicone Hoses in Industry – Practical Examples

Silicone hoses are flexible and durable components that are essential in many industrial sectors. Due to their physicochemical properties, they are used in industrial, automotive, and laboratory systems.

Silicone hoses – what are they and what are they used for?

Silicone hoses are specially designed conduits made of high-quality silicone. They can be additionally reinforced with fabric to increase resistance to pressure and tensile forces. Both standard silicone hoses and reinforced silicone hoses are used in air, liquid, and gas transport systems, especially in applications exposed to high temperatures, pressure fluctuations, vibrations, or aggressive chemical environments. Their primary function is to ensure system tightness, minimizing the risk of unwanted leaks and costly failures. They perform exceptionally well in applications where reliability and long-term operation are critical.

Properties of silicone hoses

Silicone rubber hoses are resistant to extreme temperatures, allowing for the safe transport of both very cold and very hot fluids. Thermal resistance maintains structural integrity and performance, significantly reducing the risk of failure. Platinum-cured silicone hoses are characterized by exceptional resistance to temperatures reaching up to +300°C, making them an ideal solution for transferring fluids and gases. High-temperature silicone hoses are widely used in the food, medical, and pharmaceutical industries.

Silicone does not degrade under prolonged exposure to UV radiation or ozone. The material is extremely flexible and durable, allowing hoses to adapt to various shapes. Silicone hoses perform well when in contact with a wide range of chemicals, making them suitable for applications involving corrosive substances. They do not swell, deteriorate, or leak, ensuring long-term service life.

High-quality silicone hoses also offer excellent insulating properties. They feature a smooth, non-stick surface that effectively prevents residue and contamination buildup. It is worth noting that silicone is physiologically inert. The material is non-toxic and harmless. Can silicone hoses be sterilized? Yes, silicone hoses can be sterilized, making them suitable for applications requiring strict sanitary standards where hygiene and cleanliness are a priority.

The physicochemical properties of silicone hoses guarantee long-lasting performance and reliability, even in highly demanding applications.

Types of silicone

Based on molecular structure, silicone can be divided into three main types:

• liquid silicone rubber (LSR)
• room-temperature vulcanized silicone rubber (RTV)
• high-temperature vulcanized silicone rubber (HTV)

Silicone hoses for food applications

Properly selected FDA-approved silicone hoses are widely used in food processing, packaging, and transportation. They meet safety standards and are non-toxic, making them suitable for direct contact with food. Compliance with FDA (Food and Drug Administration) requirements ensures that no harmful chemical substances migrate into food. Silicone does not react with food during processing or storage. It is odorless and resistant to microbial growth, which is essential for maintaining hygiene.

Reinforced silicone hoses used in the food industry are resistant to high sterilization temperatures. Biocompatibility and sterilization capability make silicone hoses safe for use in environments where contamination risk must be minimized. Additionally, food-grade silicone has a hydrophobic and non-stick surface that prevents water absorption and facilitates cleaning.

Exceptional resistance to extreme temperatures, flexibility, chemical resistance, and compliance with safety standards make silicone hoses ideal for dairy processing, brewing, food processing, beverage transport, and water filtration.

Silicone hoses for pharmaceutical applications

Silicone tubing plays a vital role in pharmaceutical applications. It is distinguished by high flexibility, thermal stability, and chemical compatibility, making it ideal for fluid transfer applications. Physiological inertness ensures that properly selected silicone hoses do not react with pharmaceuticals or biological samples, maintaining purity without contamination risk. Silicone does not react with transported substances.

Silicone hoses for pharmaceutical use operate across a wide temperature range without loss of properties, making them ideal for sterilization processes. Silicone tubing is durable and resistant to repeated use and thermal sterilization. Silicone hoses are available in various diameters (e.g. 8 mm, 10 mm, 20 mm, 25 mm, 50 mm, etc.) and colors (e.g. blue, white, transparent, red, etc.). Transparent silicone hoses facilitate flow monitoring, enabling quick detection of potential contamination.

Silicone hoses for pharmaceutical applications enable efficient and trouble-free fluid transport and drug delivery, where high purity and non-toxicity are essential. Therefore, they are used in drug delivery systems, laboratory research equipment, bioreactors, and diagnostic devices.

Silicone hoses and tubing in medical applications

Low-pressure silicone hoses are used for transporting fluids and gases, including in the medical sector. They are characterized by excellent flexibility, low compression set, and durability. Durable silicone hoses do not react with most chemicals, making them suitable for transferring sensitive or corrosive fluids.

Among various rubber hoses, silicone hoses stand out for their biocompatibility and excellent resistance to aging caused by adverse environmental conditions and disinfectants. Biocompatibility and non-toxicity mean that silicone does not produce harmful substances or react with its environment, which is essential for maintaining the highest safety standards during medical procedures. Transparent silicone tubing allows easy observation of fluids. These features make platinum-cured silicone hoses highly versatile in the medical industry.

Silicone hoses available from Power Rubber can be easily disinfected and sterilized in an autoclave, which is crucial in both medical and pharmaceutical industries. This enhances safety and cleanliness of medical devices in which the hoses are installed.

Medical-grade silicone hoses are used for fluid infusion, catheters, chest drainage, oxygen tubing, and anesthesia equipment.

Silicone hoses in the automotive industry

Due to durability, flexibility, high-temperature resistance, and long service life, silicone hoses are used in vehicles for various applications, including fuel systems, cooling systems, and pneumatic systems.

Silicone hoses for cooling systems

The physicochemical properties of silicone hoses make them ideal for cooling system applications. Silicone tubing is highly flexible and resistant to heat and chemicals, ensuring efficient fluid transport without damage risk. Silicone’s durability reduces the risk of sudden failures.

Silicone hoses in turbocharger systems

Silicone hoses used in turbocharger systems ensure safe and tight transport of boost air between the turbocharger, intercooler, and intake manifold, as well as vacuum control. Properly selected silicone hoses ensure reliable performance under high temperature and pressure conditions. Long-term durability of silicone hoses increases reliability and failure-free operation of the entire boost system.

Silicone hoses are used in automotive applications wherever resistance to high temperatures, pressure, and material aging is critical. Durable hoses improve system reliability and significantly extend vehicle service life.

Silicone tubing – other applications

Silicone hoses are suitable for a wide range of applications across various industries. Beyond the industries mentioned above, silicone hoses are also used in HVAC systems (ventilation, air conditioning, heating). They are used for air transport, ensuring long-term operation without loss of flexibility. They are also applied in agricultural irrigation systems, cooling systems, intake systems, and pneumatic installations in machinery and tractors. Silicone hoses are widely used in mechanical engineering and automation as air conduits or cable protection, ensuring long-term, trouble-free operation of equipment.

Silicone hoses are commonly used in biotechnology due to their stable physicochemical properties and compliance with stringent process requirements. They are used for transporting process liquids and gases in laboratory systems. Chemical resistance and absence of substance migration are critical. Silicone hoses can be sterilized, ensuring safety in environments requiring cleanliness and hygiene.

Silicone hoses available at Power Rubber

At Power Rubber, we offer silicone hoses designed for demanding operating conditions. Manufactured silicone hoses are designed for thermal stability, chemical compatibility, and long service life. Our solutions are ideal for food, medical, pharmaceutical industries, as well as agriculture and HVAC systems. Silicone hoses are available in various diameters and colors. We are happy to advise on selecting the appropriate silicone hoses for specific applications.

Please contact us by phone at +48 22 292 40 24 or +48 505 16 03 03, by email (Power@PowerRubber.com), or via our contact form.