More about Tubing

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Tubing is used to facilitate the transport of fluids, gases or particulate within a system. It is available in all manner of materials, from pure metals and metal alloys to thermoplastics and other polymers. In addition to its obvious uses in plumbing and heating, tubing has extensive medical, food processing, electrical, chemical and hydraulic applications. Tubing is also widely used in pneumatic devices, automobiles, military functions and laboratories. Tubing differs from piping in often having relatively thinner walls. In addition, tubing is usually measured by its outside diameter and wall thickness, whereas pipe is often categorized by its thickness schedule and inside diameter.

Popular metals for tubing are aluminum, copper, stainless steel, brass and titanium. These materials can be seamless, welded, aluminized or powder coated, depending on the nature of the application. Many other tube options are also available, including a vast range of specific alloys and metal treatments. Thermoplastics, silicones, rubbers, carbon steel, and many exotic materials are also shaped into tubing. Some materials are prized for their durability and strength, while others are chosen for their chemical properties. When choosing tubing for a food processing application, for instance, certain metals are not acceptable, and various plastics are often selected. Polyvinyl chloride, better known as PVC, and polyethylene are both commonly used tubing materials.

Plastic and rubber tubing is available in varying degrees of hardness, typically measured on the Durometer scale. A material with a soft texture, such as a rubber band, would have a low Shore A number (30A), while a hard substance would rank close to 100A. A material hardness measured with a Rockwell R number, even at number below 50, denotes a hard material. Other important factors in the selection of plastic tubing are its bend radius, its light permeability (transparent, translucent or opaque), and its tensile strength. The temperatures to which the tubing will be subjected are also an important issue, since higher temperatures lower the pressure capabilities of a tube.

Metal tubing should be evaluated using similar parameters, including tensile strength and hardness. The temperature of the environment and the passing fluid also affects the qualities of metal tubing. Corrosion resistance must also be taken into account with metal tubing, and certain alloys may be necessary for highly corrosive applications. Molybdenum, for example, enhances the corrosion resistance of stainless steel, while unadulterated titanium has excellent corrosion resistant properties.