What Are the Pros and Cons of Silicone Tubing?
Silicone tubing is a popular choice for many industries due to its unique properties. However, like any material, there are both pros and cons to using silicone tubing in various applications.
The physical properties of silicone tubing make it a versatile option, suitable for a wide range of temperatures from extreme cold to high heat. It is highly flexible, which allows for easy installation and routing in complex systems.
United Silicones has the expertise and product range to deliver reliable and high-quality custom silicone tubing. Make your order today.
The Pros of Silicone Tubing
Some of the key advantages and properties of silicone tubing include:
Versatility
Silicone can be moulded and manufactured into many profiles, making it suitable for applications such as:
- Medical products and equipment
- Pharmaceuticals
- Food and beverage
- Automotive industry
- And more
Silicone tubing can be customised to exact specifications, thanks to its versatility across various formulations offering specific levels of flexibility and durability. Check out our guide to learn more about silicone tubing and its applications.
With silicone available in different formulations, each featuring distinct levels of flexibility and durability, choosing the right type is vital to meet your application's needs. United Silicones is here to assist you in selecting the perfect specifications for your silicone tubing requirements.
Temperature Resistance
Silicone holds tough resistance to low and high temperatures. Depending on the application, if extreme temperatures are required, the silicone tubing may have to be further treated to withstand the desired environment.
Typically, silicone tubing can withstand temperatures from as low as -60°C to as high as 260°C. This excellent heat resistance makes it ideal for electrical equipment such as insulation or automotive applications where extreme temperatures are common.
Flexibility
One of the key advantages of silicone rubber tubing is its flexibility. Silicone tubing can bend and stretch without losing its shape or integrity, making it easy to install in tight spaces or complex systems. This flexibility also allows for easy routing around obstacles, reducing the need for additional fittings or connectors. Additionally, the flexibility of silicone tubing makes it less prone to kinking or collapsing under pressure.
Biocompatibility
Silicone tubing is highly recognised for its compatibility with biological systems, which is why it's often the material of choice in the medical and pharmaceutical fields. Its non-reactive, non-toxic, and hypoallergenic properties ensure that it doesn't interact with human tissues or fluids. This non-reactivity is critical for medical implements such as catheters, feeding devices, and various surgical tools. Additionally, silicone tubing can be easily sterilised, which contributes to its reliability and safety in critical healthcare procedures.
Durability
Silicone tubing is known for its durability and longevity, making it a cost-effective option for many industries. Silicone is resistant to degradation from UV exposure and extreme weather conditions, ensuring that it maintains its integrity over time. This resistance to environmental factors makes silicone tubing a reliable choice for outdoor applications or those exposed to harsh conditions.
Chemical Resistance
Additionally, silicone tubing is resistant to chemicals, oils, and solvents, making it suitable for a wide range of industrial applications. This durability also means that silicone tubing requires minimal maintenance and replacement, reducing overall costs in the long run.
Silicone tubing is resistant to:
- Acetone
- Brake fluid
- Gear oil
- Potassium
- Phosphoric acid
- Sulfuric acid (to a certain extent)
Non-Reactive
Silicone rubber is highly resistant to chemical reactions with other substances. Its non-reactive nature ensures that it does not affect or alter the materials it contacts, whether they are food products, pharmaceuticals, or industrial chemicals. This property is crucial for applications demanding a high degree of purity and stability.
Non-Toxic and Hypoallergenic
Friendly to sensitive skin, silicone is a hypoallergenic material ideal for medical and personal care products. This lack of allergens makes silicone tubing safe for various sensitive applications. Often meeting strict FDA standards, silicone undergoes rigorous testing to ensure its safety in medical devices and food-contact applications.
Easy to Clean and Sanitise
Silicone's smooth, non-porous exterior prevents the accumulation of bacteria, grime, or other impurities, facilitating comprehensive cleaning. Its biocompatibility is particularly advantageous for sectors where sterility is important, including the medical, pharmaceutical, and food industries. The material's non-toxic and hypoallergenic traits ensure that it remains safe even after thorough sanitisation.
Due to its chemical inertness, silicone does not interact with either the cleaning solutions or the materials conveyed within it. This quality guarantees that the tubing remains residue-free post-cleaning, preserving the integrity of any substances in contact with the silicone.
Colour and Sizing
Silicone tubing is available in many different colours in addition to clear silicone tubing. This makes it easily distinguishable in high-stress occupations where distinction is a must such as for emergency services or aircraft tubing. Clear silicone tubing is ideal for applications where visibility is required, such as in medical or laboratory settings. The ability to choose from a variety of colours allows for easy identification and organisation in complex systems.
At United Silicones, we supply a range of silicone rubber tubing products available in a variety of colours and sizes ranging from 0.5mm ID up to 100 mm+, which ensures we have a silicone rubber tubing product that will fulfill your needs.
United Silicones delivers reliable, cost-effective custom silicone tubing that is suitable for your application. Make your order here.
The Cons of Silicone Tubing
Permeability
Silicone can be quite permeable and allows the exchange of gases, so silicone tubing may not be suitable for a range of applications. However, there are certain applications where permeability is desired, such as in medical devices that require gas exchange, like oxygenators and certain types of respiratory equipment.
The permeability of silicone tubing can also be beneficial in biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries where controlled gas exchange is necessary for processes like cell culture and fermentation.
Strength
Silicone tubing may not be as strong or durable as other materials like rubber or plastic. It may be prone to tearing, puncturing, or stretching under high pressure or extreme conditions. This can limit its use in applications that require robust and sturdy tubing, such as industrial settings where the tubing is subjected to harsh environments or heavy loads.
However, silicone possesses notable strengths, including exceptional flexibility, temperature resistance, and chemical inertness. These qualities make silicone tubing an excellent choice for applications that prioritise these attributes over sheer mechanical strength and durability.
The tensile strength of silicone tubing varies based on its formulation and how it's made. Typically, silicone rubber has a tensile strength ranging from 200 to 1,500 pounds per square inch (psi). For instance, peroxide-cured silicone tubing can have a tensile strength of around 1,444 psi (9.96 MPa).
Limited Abrasion Resistance
The softness and flexibility of silicone, while beneficial in many applications, also make it more prone to damage from abrasive forces. The material can be easily scratched, scuffed, or worn away when in contact with rough or hard surfaces. Additionally, repetitive exposure to abrasive conditions can cause silicone tubing to degrade over time. This degradation can lead to thinning of the walls, weakening of the tubing, and ultimately failure in maintaining a seal or structural integrity.
While this may be a downside to certain applications, silicone tubing still offers a range of advantages that make it highly valuable in many other contexts. Its exceptional flexibility, wide temperature range tolerance, chemical inertness, and biocompatibility make it an ideal choice for medical, pharmaceutical, and food-grade applications where these properties are important.
Cost
Discuss how silicone can be more expensive than some alternative tubing materials. However, while silicone may come with a higher price tag compared to other materials like PVC or rubber, this cost is often offset by its exceptional durability and performance.
Investing in silicone tubing can prove economical in the long run, thanks to its long-lasting nature, minimal upkeep, and reduced need for replacement. For applications that demand high levels of dependability, cleanliness, and safety, the advantages of silicone tubing justify the initial cost, providing long-term value and benefits.
At United Silicones, we provide a range of cost-effective silicone solutions suitable to your application.
Need to talk about your application? Contact us to discuss your requirements.
The Benefits of Silicone Rubber Tubing Outweigh the Cons
In conclusion, silicone tubing offers far more benefits than drawbacks. Despite its susceptibility to abrasion and lower mechanical strength compared to some materials, the advantages of silicone tubing, such as its ease of cleaning and sterilisation, long-term durability, and resistance to environmental factors, make it a superior choice in many situations.
Its versatility and ability to maintain integrity under a variety of conditions ensure that silicone tubing remains a trusted and valuable component in countless industries.
Our Custom Silicone Tubing is Prized for its Exceptional Quality. Speak to Our Experts Today.
With seventy years of combined experience in the silicone rubber industry, complemented by a sales and production team with an additional 50+ years of expertise, our extensive experience ensures you have a team that consistently performs and delivers exceptional results.
We pride ourselves on providing our clients with:
Competitive Pricing - We offer fair and competitive pricing without compromising on quality.
Building a Customer-Focused Relationship - We prioritise understanding and meeting your specific needs.
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