Blog

PTFE Hoses vs Rubber Hoses

17 Oct 2019 Industrial Dampers

If you are looking into what kind of hose material to use for your chemical transfer system, pumps, or fuel systems, it can be helpful to know the benefits and differences between PTFE hoses vs rubber hoses. At Flextech Industries, we manufacture PTFE hose solutions as well as a wide range of other industrial piping accessories for all kinds of industries.

PTFE vs Rubber for Hoses

Rubber hoses are incredibly common for a variety of pumping systems and chemical transfers, but they are not always the best option. Rubber has a variety of great attributes, not the least of which is its affordability. Rubber has a wide bending radius, is resistant to oil and fuel, and it does not require a large number of fittings and angles in order to make a working system; however, rubber can be permeated by some chemicals and release fumes, it has a high surface resistance and can reduce flow, and they can be heavy. Rubber will also break down a lot faster than PTFE. For these reasons, PTFE hoses are often preferable.

Why Use PTFE Hose?

PTFE (or polytetrafluoroethylene) hoses are an excellent alternative to rubber hoses. With the right manufacturing and housing, they can be extremely durable, and fitting them to a system can be quite simple. While they do not offer the same range of flexibility as rubber does, PTFE hoses are highly resistant to most chemicals and they do not often release fumes, which is important for any kind of enclosed space. This chemical resistance also means that PTFE hoses will break down a lot more slowly than rubber hoses will.

Polytetrafluoroethylene also has less surface friction than rubber, which means that flow can be improved by using PTFE hoses. While rubber is prone to break down at extreme temperatures, PTFE is highly temperature resistant, making it ideal for all kinds of industries.

If you are interested in learning more about the benefits of PTFE hoses vs rubber hoses, or if you are interested in any of our services or products, please contact Flextech Industries at the location nearest you or fill out a contact form on our website.