A lot of people are put off by stainless steel hose because it’s expensive and it doesn’t bend like rubber hoses can. What they don’t realise, however, is that there are times when using stainless steel hose is actually much better than using rubber or plastic hoses. In this article, we discuss when you should use stainless steel industrial hose and what the benefits are of doing so.
Temperature Extremes
When you’re working with chemicals or transferring hot liquids, it’s important to use a hose that can handle high temperatures. Stainless steel hoses will handle these conditions well. While a hose made of rubber or plastic may not burst under pressure, it can melt and then come apart when exposed to higher temperatures.
Chemical Compatibility
Most commonly, we get asked about whether or not stainless steel hose can handle certain chemicals. The short answer is yes. Stainless steel has a high melting point and resists corrosion from most chemicals. However, stainless steel is not indestructible, so if you’re planning on putting a stainless steel hose through particularly harsh conditions then it’s always worth consulting with a specialist to make sure your product will last.
Fire Safety
Stainless steel is also a great choice for fire safety. As stainless steel does not conduct heat well, it will hold its temperature for longer meaning there will be less risk of injury when compared to other types of hose that do conduct heat. A durable stainless steel hose is ideal in any job where there is a high risk of fire.
Achieving Full Vacuum
Whether your application is in chemical processing, biopharmaceuticals, chemical manufacturing or heavy industrial production, achieving full vacuum is a critical aspect of any process. One key to ensure safe operation and efficient vacuum pump performance is for process engineers to select proper equipment for their application. However, process engineers should not forget that in order to reach full vacuum conditions safely and efficiently, there are many other factors that must be taken into consideration during equipment selection and design.
Flexibility in Fitting Configuration
Metal hose is available in a variety of configurations. You can choose to have a single hose or multiple hoses depending on your requirements. For instance, if you have an application where you need to transfer gas and air at different pressures then you would need 2 hoses: one for gas and another for air. It is common in certain industries like the petrochemical industry, FMCG manufacturing plants.
Potential for Catastrophic Failure
One of metal hose’s biggest selling points is its superior resistance to pressure spikes, which can cause failures with conventional rubber hoses. However, if you’re using metal hose in an environment that exposes it to abrasive or high-impact objects (such as construction sites), then you might see an increase in failure rates compared to a rubber-hose alternative.
