Before making a large-scale purchase of silicone hoses, it is crucial for your business to understand the applicable industries and technical specifications of the products. Next, we will delve into the applications of silicone hoses in 5 major industries and how to choose the silicone hoses.
Why Use Silicone Hoses?
If you choose silicone hoses for your business, due to their excellent performance, stability and durability, they can reduce your after-sales losses and help you maintain strict quality control and enhance product competitiveness. Below is the performance comparison of silicone and two other hose materials that we have compiled for you:
| Comparison Dimension | Silicone | EPDM | PVC |
| Operating Temperature | -60°C to 250°C, peak up to 300°C | -55°C to 120°C, maximum 150°C | -10°C to 60°C |
| Flexibility and Bending Performance | Ultra-soft with low bending stiffness | Good elasticity and bending property | Average flexibility |
| Chemical Resistance | Moderate resistance, not resistant to gasoline and fuel | Resistant to acid, alkali and polar solvents, poor oil resistance | Tolerates mild chemicals, not resistant to strong solvents |
| Food Grade Compliance | Compliant with FDA and EU standards (platinum-cured) | Not suitable for food contact | Some grades have certification, but plasticizer migration risks exist |
Silicone Hose Uses in Various Industries
Automotive and Motorsport
The automotive and motorsport industries are the most mature and extensive markets for silicone hoses. Choosing the right hoses for your products can solve many problems in the automotive aftermarket.
Advantages of Silicone Hose in This Industry
Broad Working Temperature Range: You can rely on the silicone hose to operate stably within the temperature range of -50°C to 180°C. The special model can even operate within the range of -60°C to 250°C.
Silicone hoses featured with flexibility and durability ensure stable long-term operation of car engines under high temperature, high pressure, vibration and oil mist conditions throughout the service life.
Aesthetic Appeal: The silicone hose not only has excellent performance, but also boasts aesthetic advantages. You can choose from various color options and surface treatments to decorate the engine compartment as you wish, perfectly matching your personal modification style.
If your customers also value the overall appearance and visual appeal of the vehicle, choosing silicone hoses can effortlessly enhance the overall quality of the engine bay.
Typical Usage
- Radiator hose, coolant hose.
- Turbo hose, intercooler hose, charge air cooler (CAC) hose.
- Heater hose, heater core connection.
- Air intake hose.
- Supercharger connection, turbo elbow.
Food and Beverage Processing
The food and beverage industry is also a field where silicone hoses are widely used. Choosing safe silicone hoses can help you avoid various hygiene and loss issues during production and transportation.
Advantages of Silicone Hose in This Industry
Outstanding Hydrophobic Non-Stick Properties: The silicone hose has an extremely low surface tension and possesses excellent non-stick and hydrophobic properties. When you are transporting food, it is less likely to have any residue attached. Daily cleaning and disinfection will also be much easier and more convenient.
If you choose silicone hoses, they can keep the pipeline clean for a long time, reduce the maintenance workload, and be suitable for clean production conditions.
Typical Usage
- Food grade silicone hose, transfer hose.
- Brewery hose, wine transfer tubing.
- Dairy transfer hose.
- Edible oil transfer hose.
- Soft drink filling line.
- Food equipment tubing.
Pharmaceutical and Biotech
The pharmaceutical industry has set the highest standards for hoses across the entire industry. You can meet the demanding cleanliness standards and medical usage requirements by choosing high-quality silicone hoses.
Advantages of Silicone Hose in This Industry
Safety and Compliance: The silicone hose has excellent non-toxic properties and biocompatibility, and strictly complies with medical-grade hygiene standards. You can rest assured that it can be used for manufacturing medical products. The material is harmless, and no harmful substances are released.
Most standard industrial hoses lack the necessary biocompatibility certifications for direct human contact, whereas silicone hoses readily meet these standards. Silicone hoses can help you easily meet the industry entry requirements.
Typical Usage
- Peristaltic pump tubing, pump grade tubing.
- Sterile fluid transfer.
- Bioreactor connection.
- Dialysis tubing.
- Ventilator circuit.
- Single-use assembly hose.
Industrial Manufacturing
The industrial manufacturing sector features complex use cases and diverse working conditions, making it the core application industry for silicone rubber hoses. Silicone hoses can help you enhance production efficiency.
Advantages of Silicone Hose in This Industry
Cost and Value: Although the initial cost of silicone hoses is higher, their long-term value is extremely significant. Silicone hoses offer greater durability, temperature resistance and chemical resistance, resulting in a more stable overall performance.
It can significantly reduce the frequency of replacements, avoid equipment malfunctions and losses, and save subsequent expenses. If you value the reliability and lifespan of the equipment, upgrading to silicone hoses is a cost-effective, high-quality long-term option.
Excellent Insulation Properties: Due to the excellent electrical insulation properties of the silicone hose, it is suitable for various scenarios of electronic and electrical equipment. You can use it to achieve effective line protection and electrical isolation. The insulation performance is stable and long-lasting, effectively avoiding the risks of leakage and short circuits.
The insulation of ordinary hoses tends to deteriorate easily. Once they crack, their protective effect significantly decreases, thereby posing a risk of electricity leakage. Upgrading to silicone hoses can ensure the smooth operation of your factory or production equipment.
Typical Usage
- High temperature exhaust hose.
- Chemical transfer hose.
- Vacuum hose.
- Compressed air line.
- Hot air transfer hose.
- HVAC ducting, air conditioning hose.
- HVAC equipment tubing.
- Filling needle tubing.
Rail and Mass Transit
Rail transit and mass transit have demanding conditions and a long service life, and they are also important application fields for silicone hoses. Your product can handle more complex working conditions by using silicone hoses.
Advantages of Silicone Hose in This Industry
Excellent Flame Retardant Protection Performance: The silicone hose has excellent flame-retardant properties. When burning, it emits little smoke and no halogen emissions, and can easily meet the strict flame-retardant standards such as EN 45545-2 R22/R23 HL3.
Ordinary hoses have insufficient flame retardancy and are prone to emitting toxic smoke when burning. If you choose silicone hoses, they can not only meet the compliance requirements of various high-risk cases, but also provide an additional reliable guarantee for the safety of equipment and personnel.
Typical Usage
- HVAC ducting for rail.
- Brake line protector.
- Electrical cabinet sealing and ventilation.
- Floor sinking tube for railway.
How to Choose the Right Silicone Hoses for Your Application?
Consideration of Target Markets and Certifications
First, you need to consider where your product will be sold and whether it can enter the market. Therefore, we have compiled the following table for you and provided explanations. You can refer to it according to your own needs.
| Certification Name | Target Applicable Market | Standard Description |
| FDA 21 CFR 177.2600 | USA and global | Food contact material standard |
| USP Class VI | Global medical and biopharmaceutical | Highest grade biocompatibility test |
| ISO 10993 | Global medical and biomedicine | Biological evaluation standard for medical devices |
| EN 45545-2 (R22/R23 HL2/HL3) | EU railway | European fire resistance standard for rail transit |
| RoHS | Global environmental compliance | Restriction of hazardous substances directive |
| REACH | European Union | Regulation for chemical registration, evaluation, authorization and restriction |
| 3-A Sanitary Standards | North American food and dairy | Sanitary standard for hoses |
| European Pharmacopoeia 3.1.9 | EU pharmaceutical | European pharmacopoeia specification |
| NSF 51 | North American food equipment | Material standard for food equipment |
Determine Product Application and Specifications
Silicone hoses are not universal. If they are to be used for transporting gasoline or organic solutions, we do not recommend their use. You should also consider the temperature and pressure during the product’s operation, so as to determine the type, wall thickness, length, inner diameter and hardness of the silicone hose.
If you want to highlight the brand’s characteristics or meet the consumers’ needs, you can request customization of the color and logo on your silicone hose.
FAQ
Are Silicone Hoses Suitable for Steam and Autoclave Sterilization?
The standard peroxide-cured silicone hose is not recommended for repeated steam sterilization, as steam sterilization causes the hose to become brittle and develop cracks over time. If steam sterilization is necessary, you can use platinum-cured silicone hoses.
However, the service life in a steam environment is shorter than that in a dry heat environment.
What Does “Reinforcement” Mean in Silicone Hoses? What Types of Reinforcement Are Available?
Reinforcement refers to the woven fibers or metal wires embedded within the wall of your silicone hose. It can enhance the pressure resistance level and effectively prevent the hose from swelling or bursting under pressure. The common types include: Aramid (Kevlar) braid, Polyester braid, stainless steel wire braid, and spiral wire (helix).
Can Silicone Hoses Be Used in Vacuum Environments?
Yes. However, if you are going to use it in a vacuum environment such as for food transportation or for handling pharmaceutical powders, you will need to use a thick-walled hose that is reinforced with spiral metal wires or has an internal braided layer. Unreinforced silicone hoses will collapse due to their flexibility in a vacuum environment.
Do Silicone Hoses Absorb Water and Expand Under Humid Conditions?
Silicone hoses do not absorb a large amount of water easily, even after being soaked for a long time. However, it is not completely impermeable to moisture. In a high-humidity environment, the silicone hose will absorb a small amount of water, which may reduce the electrical insulation performance of your product, but it will not affect its mechanical strength.
Can Silicone Hoses Resist Ozone and UV Radiation?
Yes. Silicone itself possesses excellent resistance to ozone and UV. It does not require special antioxidants or anti-odor agents, and will not develop cracks even after years of use. This makes silicone hoses an ideal choice for your production of outdoor application products.
Final Thoughts
With over twenty years of experience in silicone manufacturing, Legensilico can share the knowledge about silicone hoses with you and provide customized services. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us at any time.
