Pneumatic Hose and Tubing Materials: What Each One Handles

Pneumatic hose and tubing distribute compressed air to valves, actuators, tools, and other components. The material choice affects flexibility, pressure capacity, abrasion resistance, chemical compatibility, and temperature range.

Most industrial pneumatic systems use flexible hose or tubing rather than rigid pipe, but the right material still depends on the environment and the airflow requirement.

Polyurethane

Polyurethane tubing is widely available and durable. It combines useful flexibility with abrasion resistance, kink resistance, and good chemical resistance in many plant environments.

It is often selected when tubing needs to bend repeatedly while still holding its shape and resisting wear around machinery.

PVC

PVC hose is a low-cost and flexible choice. It can provide chemical and corrosion resistance, and it is often used where the system needs a practical general-purpose hose rather than a severe-duty material.

PVC can also be useful where wear resistance and repeated cleaning are part of the application, but the pressure and temperature limits still need to be checked.

Polyethylene

Polyethylene is common for straight pneumatic tubing runs and lower-pressure applications. It is lightweight, chemically inert in many conditions, and economical.

The tradeoff is that polyethylene can kink and has a more limited pressure and temperature range than some higher-performance materials.

Nylon

Nylon costs more than polyethylene, but it offers higher strength, better pressure capability, and a wider temperature range. It also handles repeated flexing better in many pneumatic systems.

Where the tube sees motion, mechanical stress, or higher operating pressure, nylon may be a stronger option.

Polypropylene and PTFE

Polypropylene is very light and offers good chemical resistance, UV resistance in selected uses, and useful electrical properties. It is often considered when chemical exposure and weight matter.

PTFE is used where high temperature, chemical resistance, pressure capability, or static electricity concerns are more important. It is chemically inert in many applications, but fitting design and installation should be matched to the material.

Hose, Tubing, and Flow

Hose is typically specified by inside diameter, while tubing is commonly specified by outside diameter. That difference matters when choosing fittings and calculating flow.

Proper airflow depends on the correct diameter. Too small a line can restrict flow and reduce equipment performance. Too large a line can be harder to route and more expensive than necessary.

When selecting pneumatic hose or tubing, check the media, pressure, temperature, flexibility, bend radius, outside environment, oil or condensate exposure, and whether the hose uses single or multiple material layers.