Composite hoses deconstructed
-Hydraulic Hoses Fittings Dubai
Conventional Hydraulic hoses made of rubber are inflexible and heavy whereas metal hoses are relatively expensive and stiff to use. While rubber hoses and metal hoses have their own benefits, Composite hoses offer a unique alternative for a number of applications due to it’s strong yet flexible design and unparalleled vibration and kink resistance.
Like traditional rubber hoses, composite hoses are produced using the mandrel wrap method. A composite hose has an inner spiral wire, upon which, layers of films, fabric and seamless tube are tightly wrapped and contained with the help of an external spiral wire. The inter-facial tension or ‘surface tension’ between the layers bound by the spiral wires contributes to the pressure capability of the hose. The layers are not heated, sealed or fused together and so offer a high level of resistance to permeability.
The spiral wires are typically galvanised steel, stainless steel, aluminium or polypropylene coated steel, whereas the film and fabric materials used can be polyester, polypropylene, ECTFE (Ethylene ChloroTriFluoroEthylene), fibre glass, aramid, polyamide and such other materials specially tailored for a particular application for the hose.
Axial and tensile strength is provided by layers of fabric and film while the seamless tube prevents leaks, permeation and chemical attacks by the fluid. The spiral wires balances and maintains shape and prevents collapse even in vacuum, increases flexibility and resistance to abrasion and moreover conducts electrical charge to the ground preventing sparking due to static electricity.
This relatively new generation of hoses has fulfilled the need for highly flexible and light multi-layer hoses that can be used for transporting a variety of aggressive chemicals, petro chemicals, liquefied gases and concentrated alcohols and are mainly used in chemical, oil and gas, steel, machining, industrial, road transportation, rail tankers and marine transportation industries.
Custom hose assemblies made of composite hoses with a wide range of end fittings, flanges, camlock and reloading couplings are now available. Specially developed composite hoses are even used by the aeronautics and space development agencies. Composite hoses rank high in safety, chemical resistance, flexibility and durability, even in harsh environments. They are also used in suction and discharge ports in petrochemical and oil and gas plants, tank car and railcar transfers, blending of lubricating oils as well as marine ship to shore activities.
Thus the design and various components of a composite hose provides a unique combination of a light weight flexible hose that can be used for a variety of applications and for a long service life.
To find out the right fit composite hose for your requirement contact Inflex Hydraulics today.
For more research information on composite hoses check out this page.