Choosing The Right Tubing Material For Your Pneumatic Application

Pneumatic tubing delivers pressurized air where needed, such as valves, tools and actuators.  However, there are various factors that you need to consider when opting for the right tubing material for a specific task.

The first factor to consider is its construction. Tubing materials used in pneumatic applications can either be made from internal reinforcements—for added strength—or a single material. Your choice of tubing is also influenced by the air supply of the required application. Tubing materials can be characterized by their wall thickness and outer diameters.

There are a variety of plastic pneumatic tubing options in the market; let’s take a look at some of them:

Polyurethane

Polyurethane tubing is a popular tubing option owing to its strength and flexibility. Plus, it has excellent resistance to kinks and abrasions. Tubes made of Polyurethane can stand a working pressure of 150psi or higher. Moreover, theses tubes have tighter Outer Diameter (OD) tolerance and are strong enough to withstand contact with fuels and oils.

 Available in a variety of push-to-connect fittings, diameters and tubing colors, polyurethane tubing is often used in laboratory settings, vacuum equipment, pneumatic actuation systems and semiconductor manufacturing.

Nylon

Nylon tubing is relatively light, yet tough and dimensionally stable. Tubing made up of nylon is often used in high-pressure pneumatic applications. Moreover, it offers incredible flexibility for routing, high flexural-fatigue resistance and low water absorption properties.

Since nylon tubing has a harder wall, it is widely used in push to connect fittings. Additionally, it’s has excellent chemical resistance and offers resistance to temperatures up to 200 F. Although available in a wide range of colors, Nylon’s color is naturally near transparent which is why it is usually used as a level gauge on tanks.

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

Compared to nylon and polyethylene, PVC tubing is lighter in weight and offers superior flexibility. It can handle repeated sterilization procedures and resist exposure to strong chemicals. PVC tubing meets FDA specifications for contact with drug products and foods, making it a common choice for medical applications.

This tubing material is usually clear, making it well-suited for applications where visible indication of flow is required.

 

Polyethylene

Polyethylene tubing is widely used for low-pressure applications and pneumatic controls owing to its flexibility, low cost and color coding options. It works in compression fittings and push to connect fittings that have barb fittings and plastic sleeves.

However, semi-rigid HDPE tubing is far more resistant to damage in addition to having a higher burst pressure as opposed to polyethylene tubing.

If you’re looking for pneumatic plastic push to connect fittings, look no further! We offer state-of-the-art tube fittings with a wide range of materials and outer diameter options.

Browse our store or get in touch with us for more information.