一,Basic pressure resistance and material properties of food-grade silicone tubing
Food-grade silicone tubing is usually constructed from high-purity silicone rubber raw materials and meets safety regulations for food contact, such as those set by the FDA or LFGB. It is non-toxic and tasteless, flexible, resistant to high and low temperatures (usually used in the range of -60 °C to 200 °C), and has a significant ability to resist ageing.
But silicone is an elastic material with a flexible structure that can expand when pressure is applied. So, the pressure resistance of regular single-layer food-grade silicone tubing is not very high. The working pressure range for a typical single-layer structure is between 0.3MPa and 0.8MPa. The exact value will depend on the thickness of the wall and the diameter of the pipe.
二,Important things that determine how well food-grade silicone tubing can handle high pressure
First, the thickness of the wall. The stronger the blast resistance, the thicker the wall. Pipes with thinner walls are better for transporting low-pressure fluids. Pipes with thicker walls can handle more pressure, but they are less flexible and cost more.It's the temperature that works again. Silicone materials will be less strong when the temperature goes up. Food-grade silicone tubing's actual pressure-bearing capability will go down in high-temperature steam or CIP cleaning systems. when choosing tube, you need to think about the working pressure at high temperatures, not simply the room temperature statistics.
三,How to make food-grade silicone tubing that can handle high pressure better
To satisfy the needs of high-pressure applications, many food-grade silicone hoses are built with stronger structures. Polyester fibre woven layers, nylon reinforced mesh layers, and stainless steel wire reinforced constructions are all common ways to make things stronger.
The purpose of the reinforcement layer is to keep silicone from expanding too much when it is under pressure. This raises the working pressure and burst pressure by a lot. Food-grade silicone tubing with a better design can usually handle working pressures between 1.5MPa and 5.0MPa, depending on how many structural layers it has and how strong the material is.
Silicone tubing with steel wire reinforcement can handle more pressure and is good for industrial food equipment that needs to handle a lot of pressure. But improving the structure will also make it less flexible, so you need to choose the right one based on where you plan to install it.
四,The practical use of food-grade silicone tubing in high-pressure settings
During the process of circulating and pasteurising milk, the dairy processing system normally has a specific amount of pressure. Improved food-grade silicone tubing can handle both high temperatures and high pressures.
The internal pressure is relatively high in the beverage filling production line, especially when carbonated drinks are being moved. To make sure the line works safely and smoothly, woven reinforced food grade silicone tubes must be used.
In the domains of pharmaceuticals and bioengineering, infusion systems need to be very clean and stable, and some pieces of equipment need to be able to handle particular amounts of pressure. In this instance, reinforced silicone tubing of the highest quality is the best choice.
五,How to pick the right high-pressure food-grade silicone tubing
Make sure that the blasting pressure is at least three times the working pressure and that the working pressure and peak pressure are clearly defined. Check the temperature range for use, and don't let high temperatures lower the pressure bearing capability; Check to see whether there is a lot of pulse pressure; Check for any appropriate food safety certifications. Also, think about how flexible the criteria need to be based on the actual installation space.
Regular single-layer food grade silicone tubing works for systems with low or atmospheric pressure. Enhanced food grade silicone tubing works for systems with medium to high pressure. It is best to employ multi-layer reinforced structural goods for systems that work under high pressure for lengthy periods of time.
六, Food-grade silicone tubing can handle high pressure, but you need to choose it carefully
Food grade silicone tubing can handle some pressure, but whether or not it is good for high-pressure systems depends on how it is built and how it is used in real life. Single-layer structures are good for low-pressure situations. Reinforced structures can handle medium to high pressure, however very high pressure situations need other materials. when deciding if food-grade silicone tubing can handle high pressure, you should look at the pressure level, temperature, reinforcing structure, and safety aspect
