一,Food grade silicone tubing's material properties
Platinum Cured Silicone is what most food-grade silicone tubes are made of. It is non-toxic, odorless, and does not release dangerous compounds. Meets food contact regulations including FDA, LFGB, RoHS, and others; The inside wall is smooth, so it's hard for bacteria to grow. It has a high chemical stability and can handle both acidic and alkaline environments. It has good flexibility and can be bent over and over again without getting old easily. These traits mean that silicone tubing is better for cleanliness, safety, and durability than other types of tubing.
二,What the CIP cleaning system needs for pipes
The CIP system has rigorous rules for pipelines. For example, the temperature is normally between 70 and 95 degrees Celsius, although certain systems can go up to 120 degrees Celsius in a short amount of time. Cleaning solutions might be alkaline, acidic, hot water, or even steam. The pressure in the circulation is usually between 0.3 and 1.0 MPa, and the cleaning happens several times a day. The pipe needs to be able to handle high temperatures, resist corrosion, have a smooth inner wall, be clean, and be able to be used again.
三,Using food-grade silicone tubing in a CIP system
Silicone tubing is often used in the dairy sector to move milk, yogurt, and cleaning solutions. It can handle hot alkaline water going around and around at 90 °C without changing the taste of dairy products. Silicone tubing can handle acidic juices and cleaning solutions without letting out smells when making drinks and juices. Platinum sulfide silicone tubing is also utilized as a flexible pipeline in biopharmaceutical and fermentation systems. It can handle the flow of high-temperature clean water and disinfection while still maintaining tight hygiene standards.
四,Benefits of using food grade silicone tubing in CIP systems
Food grade silicone pipes are much better than PVC or regular rubber pipes because of these reasons:handle high temperatures: the standard temperature range is -40 °C to 200 °C, but it can go up to 220 °C quickly, making it good for cleaning with hot water or steam.
The smooth inner wall makes it less probable for proteins, carbohydrates, or fats to stick to it. This cuts down on biofilm growth and makes cleaning easier.No precipitation of pollutants: no discharge of heavy metals or plasticizers, and no change in the taste of food.Good flexibility: fast to put together, quick to take apart, and works well with mobile production lines or laboratory CIP systems.
五,Food-grade silicone tubing has some limits and safety measures.
Food grade silicone tubing works well for most CIP circumstances, although there are still certain limits:Limited pressure carrying capacity: reinforced pipes should be used in high-pressure systems, while circulation systems can handle 0.3–0.6 MPa.
Sensitivity to high oxidants: Being around a lot of hydrogen peroxide or powerful chlorine disinfection for a long time can make things age and become brittle.Low mechanical strength: sharp items can easily scratch it, hence it needs protection or strengthened pipes during installation.
六,A suggestion for choosing a CIP system for food-grade silicone tubing
Pick platinum sulfide food grade tubes that meet the standards set by FDA, LFGB, and USP Class VI.The temperature resistance is higher than the cleaning temperature, which normally gives you a safety margin of 50 °C.
The high-pressure circulation system needs steel wire or fiber-reinforced pipes, depending on the pressure selection and whether or not to increase.
The inner diameter is the same as the flow rate to make sure that the CIP cleaning solution flows at a fair pace and doesn't get stuck in corners.
