TYGON® hoses and tubings
TYGON® hoses and tubings – general information
Tygon® tubing is a registered trademark of thermoplastic (plastic material) tubing manufactured by Saint-Gobain Performance Plastic’s. The tubing may be made of different plastic compounds composed of the following materials: silicone, PCV, polyurethane, fluoropolymers, thermoplastic elastomers and other materials. Because of physicochemical properties and excellent quality of these materials, it was possible to obtain tubing that features numerous unique physicochemical properties such as: transparency, flexibility, crush resistance, resilience, chemical resistance, smoothness of inner surface and an adequate gas permeability level. It is also non-hemolytic, non-toxic and biocompatible.
A variety of sophisticated compound formulas used in the tubing production process allows for really extensive use of Tygon® tubing in countless applications in: food industry, pharmaceutical, medical, chemical and petrochemical industry, biotechnology, in laboratories and for application in peristaltic pumps. The very name Tygon® tubing is in common use in science and industry-related environments as a synonym of the highest quality and accuracy.
Peristaltic tubing
Peristaltic tubing is fitted in a peristaltic pump – there the rotor with a number of rollers or shoes compresses the tubing and forces liquid or semi-liquid substances to move. Peristaltic pump tubing is made of extremely flexible rubber (natural rubber, NBR, CSM, EPDM, silicone and other), resistant to compression, friction and with an adequate level of chemical resistance. They may be textile-reinforced.
Peristaltic tubing application (examples):
- food industry (milk, yoghurt, ice-cream, fruit juices, beverages, syrups, jams, chocolate, eggs, sauces, oils and fats);
- cosmetic industry (soap, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioners, hair dye);
- chemical industry (acids and bases in suspension, caustic soda, latex, resin, adhesives, detergents, solvents, pigments, bleachers);
- construction industry (sludge, slurry, paints, dyes, varnishes, distilled water, limewater, cement mortar, bentonite, sewage);
To match the right tubing (spare tubing) to the peristaltic pump, please contact Tubes International and except for the medium and working conditions, give the following:
- what is the outer surface of the tubing currently in use: rough or very smooth;
- inner and outer hose diameter;
- overall hose length;
- are the hose ends flared, what is their inner, outer diameter and length.
Tygon® tubing by the most common applications
Following the most frequent applications, TYGON® tubing can be divided into:
General-purpose tubing:
Tygon® S3™E-3603: general-purpose tubing for laboratory applications and peristaltic pumps. Phthalate-free and BPA-free (Bisphenol A-free).
Tygon® B-44-4X I.B.: general-purpose, flexible, polyester braid-reinforced, non-toxic, taste-free and odour-free tubing.
Industrial tubing for peristaltic pumps:
Tygon® A-60-G: general-purpose, black, flexible tubing resistant to abrasion, ageing, ozone and heat radiation.
Tygon® Chemical: cream-coloured, chemical tubing with inner layer unaffected by acids, bases, salts, ketones, alcohols and other.
Tygon® E-1000: soft and flexible tubing highly resistant to aggressive chemicals. Ideal for low torque peristaltic pumps and for viscous substances.
Versilon™ F-5500-A: black, flexible, fluoropolymer tubing. Recommended for light-sensitive substances and aggressive media.
Tygon® A-60-F: general-purpose, cream-coloured, taste-free and odour-free, exceptionally flexible tubing resistant to deformation.
Food grade tubing for peristaltic pump application; meets the requirements of FDA and Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 and (EU) No 10/2011:
Tygon® XL-60: transparent, phthalate-free, very flexible tubing highly resistant to ozone, oxygen and ageing. Resistant to most acids and bases.
Tygon® S3™E-LFL: crystal-clear tubing used in the food, pharmaceutical, chemical industry and cosmetics. Resistant to abrasion, ageing and chemicals, non-toxic.
Food grade tubing, material handling; meets the requirements of FDA and European Regulations EC 1935/2004 and 10/2011/EU:
Tygon® S3™B-44-3: general-purpose, crystal clear, lightweight and flexible, phthalate-free tubing.
Tygon® 2375-C: transparent, flexible tubing resistant to acids, bases, salts, ketones and alcohols.
Tubing for dairy industry:
Tygon® S3™M-34-R: crystal-clear tubing with perfectly smooth inner surface; meets the requirements of FDA and European Regulations EC 1935/2004 and 10/2011/EU.
Tygon® S3™ A24-C: tubing for air transport in milking equipment, maintains full vacuum: designed to work together with Tygon® S3TM M-34-R tubing in milking process.
Industrial tubing:
Versilon™ C-210-A: general-purpose, transparent, polyurethane tubing; abrasion-resistant.
Versilon™ C-544-A I.B.: general-purpose, polyurethane, pressure tubing reinforced with polyester braid; abrasion-resistant.
Tygon® A-60-F I.B.: general-purpose, beige, pressure, food grade tubing reinforced with polyester braid.
Chemical processing and fuel transfer tubing:
Tygon® F-4040-A: translucent, yellow tubing for petroleum products with bio-ethanol content max.10%. Resistant to ageing, ozone and UV radiation.
Tygon® R-3400: flexible, black tubing resistant to chemicals, ozone and weather conditions. Particularly recommended for the transfer of light-sensitive media.
Tygon® LP-1200: flexible tubing for petroleum products with bio-ethanol content up to 100%. Low permeation level of aromatic hydrocarbons.
Fluoropolymer tubing:
Versilon™SE-200: transparent tubing with internal FE fluoropolymer layer. Resistant to very aggressive chemical products, solvents, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), etc.
TYGON® tubing applications
food – tubing that meets hygiene requirements for food contact materials: European Union: (EC) No 1935/2004 and (EU) 10/2011, US FDA, NSF, 3-A, etc. Non-toxic, no harmful substances (phthalates, BPA), no smell or taste. Smooth, nonporous inner surface to prevent product build-up. Easy to drain and clean. Resistance to cleaning agents. Good (glassy, crystal clear) transparency is often required. Suitability for sterilisation may be required. Batch traceability (LOT) may be required.
pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical – tubing that meets hygiene and biocompatibility requirements: ISO 10993, European Pharmacopoeia, USP (US Pharmacopoeia) Class VI, specific medical and biotechnology requirements. Non-toxic, non-haemolytic and non-pyrogenic, no harmful substances (phthalates, BPA), low extractability. Smooth, nonporous inner surface to prevent product build-up. Easy to drain and clean. Transparency may be required for flow visibility or opacity to protect the substance from UV radiation. Resistance to cleaning agents. Suitability for sterilisation. Batch traceability (LOT) is usually required.
general-purpose – tubing designed primarily for general industrial or laboratory use (some meet hygiene requirements e.g. FDA). Manufactured from PVC, polyurethane (oil and abrasion resistant), TPE, natural rubber and nitrile rubber,
fuel tubing – designed mainly for fuel systems of small internal combustion engines (devices and tools: garden equipment, small vehicles, etc.). Resistant to swelling and hardening due to exposure to hydrocarbons, flexible at low temperatures, with low extractability (fuel purity), conforming to the highest standards of fuel vapour permeation (this protects the operator and the environment). The transparency of the wall allows flow monitoring.
chemical – tubing with very high chemical resistance (some also meet EU or FDA hygiene requirements for food contact materials). Made of special polymers, FKM rubber (Viton), thermoplastic elastomers and PVC.
TYGON® tubing for peristaltic pumps
Many TYGON® tubing types are designed for peristaltic pump use offering softness, flexibility, resistance to compression, spallation (‘spallation’ – the shedding of particles of tubing material due to the pressure of the pump rotor) and fatigue strength. Under standard operation conditions, the service life of this tubing in a peristaltic pump reaches more than 1000 h.
Characteristics
Working pressure
The rated working pressure for TYGON® tubing is determined using a safety factor of 1:5 against burst pressure (1:4 for braid reinforced hoses – I. B.) at room temperature, 23°C. As the temperature increases, the working pressure can decrease. These should be taken into account by applying the data in the tables for the tubing type or (as approximate indication) according to the general data for the material.
Vacuum and TYGON®tubing vacuum applications
The maximum working vacuum at room temperature, at +23°C, in mm Hg (millimetres of mercury, 760 mm Hg = 1 bar) is basically given for most TYGON® tubing. The working vacuum is determined by a static vacuum test: 610 mm long sample, vacuum applied for 10 minutes. For higher temperatures, the drop in the working vacuum must be taken into account. And finally, VACUUM version or application-tested tubing with the thickest wall should be used for permanent, full-vacuum applications.
Chemical resistance
As TYGON® tubing is made of special materials selected for each tubing type, its chemical resistance may differ from standard materials of the respective type. Therefore, to determine the chemical resistance of particular tubing, a detailed TYGON® tubing resistance chart available on the website must be used. We strongly recommend to contact Tubes International to make the right choice of tubing for your application.
Temperature resistance
The physical properties of TYGON® tubing are determined at room temperature, 23°C. As a general rule, the tubing becomes more rigid and stiffer when the ambient temperature decreases, and more flexible but weaker when the temperature rises.
Mechanical properties
In addition to the working pressure, flexible tubing has a number of practical mechanical properties such as minimum bend radius, flexibility, bending moment, softness, stretchability, etc., which are important for selecting the right tubing for the application. However, these properties are difficult to parameterise and compare for the very tubing. Instead, there is precise data on the material properties of each TYGON® tubing type, the most important of which (hardness and minimum bend radius) are given in the catalogue description.
Assembly of fittings to tubing
Various types of fittings can be used with TYGON® tubing. The material of the fittings, like the tubing, must meet the requirements of the application, in particular, chemical resistance, hygiene or biocompatibility. Generally, low-pressure non-reinforced tubing is used in combination with a fitting with a serrated tail, matched to the inner diameter of the tubing so that it is pushed onto the fitting with good grip. The hose should be secured against slipping off the fitting using a clamp (cable tie, ear clip, worm drive clamp, T-bolt clamp, etc., matched to the working pressure, tubing hardness, and flexibility). Another solution is a push-on fitting with a screw-on compression sleeve. For reinforced hoses with higher working pressure, the attachment of the tubing must be adequately robust, which should be confirmed by testing under application conditions. If in doubt, always contact Tubes International or order tubing complete with fittings.
Cleaning and sterilisation
An absolutely essential requirement for hoses in food, pharmaceutical and biotechnology applications is cleanliness (no contamination) and sterility (no microorganisms). The following methods are used:
- cleaning out of Place (COP) – parts are dismantled before cleaning;
- cleaning in Place (CIP) – cleaning without dismantling; with acid and alkaline solutions;
- sterilization in Place (SIP) – sterilization without dismantling; e.g. by steam: +121°C / 1 bar / 30 min.
- sterilisation by steam outside the system in an autoclave (autoclaving);
- sterilisation by gas – ethylene oxide;
- radiation sterilization by ionizing radiation, e.g., gamma radiation with cobalt-60 isotope,
at an appropriate radiation dose (usually 25 kGy (25 kilogray) = 2.5 Mrad (2.5 megarad);