Hose medical silicone what are the differences. Silicone hose: advantages in use. Which gaskets are better - silicone or rubber

Silicone as a material was obtained in the middle of the 20th century. He very quickly began to advance in the chemical industry and other areas. Silicone hoses, which are flexible tubes, have received quite a lot today. wide application in various fields. Due to its physical and chemical properties, flexible silicone hoses work perfectly in those conditions in which conventional rubber products cannot be used.

Characteristics

Silicone hoses can be reinforced and non-reinforced, even (smooth) and corrugated. Sleeves are reinforced with fiberglass (single or double) and textile materials. Also, for the purpose of strengthening, they can be reinforced with a metal spiral. This production technology improves the physical properties of the pipe several times over.

A single glass fiber reinforcement increases endurance and reliability, a double fiberglass reinforcement doubles the endurance to pressure increase. Textile materials improve resistance to bending, dynamic loads and stretching. All these indicators are successfully used to improve technologies in a particular industry.

Silicone hoses have special characteristics.

Chemical resistance to aggressive environments. Silicone is characterized by resistance to alcohol, alkalis, salts and even gastric juice. In addition, it is phenol and oil resistant. During operation, hoses made of this material do not absorb odors from the substances being driven and are not destroyed by them.
Resistant to mechanical stress, kinks, cracks and twisting. This property of the tube was obtained due to the plasticity of the main raw material and the reinforcement of individual models.
The composition does not contain toxic components and allergens harmful to human health. In other words, the use of such products is absolutely safe.
Lack of smell. In addition to the fact that silicone does not absorb odors, it itself does not smell of anything.
low adhesion, that is, a small degree of sticking to the hose of other substances.
Excellent resistance to high temperatures. Heat-resistant material can withstand temperatures up to 300 degrees Celsius, and some pipe models up to 600 degrees Celsius.
Fire resistant due to heat resistance.
Compressibility under cold which creates a hermetic seal.
The softness and flexibility of silicone hoses. This allows them to be pulled over larger diameter tubes.
Ability to withstand very low temperatures(up to -60 degrees Celsius).
The dimensions of a hose are characterized by its diameter, wall thickness and length. Depending on the purpose, hose diameters can be from 5 mm or more. The smaller the diameter of the hose, the greater the pressure of the fluid that passes through it.
Color. The product can be transparent or colored.
Price. The cost of silicone hoses is at least 2 times higher than the cost of products made from other materials (polyvinyl chlorides).

Scope of application

Due to their practicality and reliability, silicone hoses have found application in almost all areas.

At home

Silicone sleeves are widely used for watering garden plots. Reinforced models that have protection from ultraviolet rays are popular. Silicone tubes can be used in all water treatment systems. In addition, reinforced silicone hoses are used as plumbing, and ordinary transparent ones are used as the most accurate hydraulic level.

In medicine

Silicone has been used in the medical field for more than half a century. Sleeves from it are productively used in laboratories and hospitals. With their help, transportation of reagents, medicines, vitamins is carried out. Conventional medical droppers are also equipped with silicone tubes. Corrugated tubes made of transparent material are used in medical equipment.

It is worth noting that in medicine, both the excellent resistance of silicone to aggressive environments, and the smooth surface of the material, and almost zero adhesive ability, which does not allow bactericidal particles to linger inside the tube, are used.

An important indicator when working with silicone in medicine is the fact that The material can withstand repeated sterilization by high temperature air and water vapor.

In production

For industrial purposes, silicone hoses are invaluable when completing pumping equipment and pneumatics for transporting liquid and gaseous substances. They also perform a protective function (used as electrical insulation to protect against moisture). In food production, silicone hoses perfectly withstand the requirements for compliance with sanitary and epidemiological standards. They are used as protractors for bulk and liquid products such as milk, mineral water, juices, vinegar, spirits, and oil. Food hoses can be suction, pressure and pressure-suction.

In agriculture

In modern agriculture, silicone hoses are indispensable. For example, they have become indispensable in the manufacture of milking machines. They are also actively used as expendable materials to agricultural machinery.

In the chemical industry

Due to their excellent resistance to various aggressive substances, silicone sleeves are used to transfer chemical media between process units.

In home brewing

In the manufacture of alcoholic beverages, silicone tubes are used that do not spoil the taste and smell of the liquid driven through them. Silicone hoses are used both for connecting running water and for running the finished product.

How to distinguish from PVC?

As you know, PVC hoses are two or more times cheaper than silicone products. At the same time, the quality indicators here are many times lower. In order to distinguish a silicone hose from a PVC product, you need to pay attention to some signs.

When a silicone hose is ignited, its structure does not change, light white smoke and ash of the same color are formed. When PVC is ignited, it turns black and melts. Forms acrid black smoke and ash.
If you put the hose in the refrigerator, then the product made of PVC will “harden”, and the silicone tube will remain elastic, retaining its physical properties.
In most cases, silicone is softer than PVC, so it will be useful to take the tube in your hands and rumple it. At the same time, it should be clarified that modern polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is not inferior in softness to silicone. Therefore, it is more reliable to use all three methods of verification.

How to choose?

The choice of silicone tube depends on the purpose of its purchase. For example, for moonshine stills and for brewing, products with a diameter of 5, 6, 8, 10 and 12 mm and a wall thickness of 1.5-2 mm are purchased. As a rule, preference is given to simple unreinforced transparent models. If hoses are purchased for hookahs and steam generators, hot air or hot water, they can be colored. Hookah pipes are thick-walled hoses. And they don't have to be red. Some manufacturers for hot water and air produce matte blue silicone hoses.

The most popular option purchased for aquariums are 4 mm wide hoses. They are used as components for oxygen installations. The winding length is determined according to the needs. It can be from 1 to 10 meters or more. For the automotive cooling system, special corrugated silicone hoses are chosen. Smooth transparent tubes are suitable for vacuum correctors. For air lines use vacuum hoses of red, blue, purple colors.

Reinforced tubes are chosen to equip the main lines of dairy production, breweries, meat shops. They are used to transport finished products and raw materials: water, cereals, oils and so on.

Silicone hoses are quite easy to use and can be used at any time of the year. They are designed both for high temperature conditions and for use in winter at critically low temperatures. They can be easily washed and replaced.

In everyday life, you often have to use hoses. They are used in aquariums to enrich water with oxygen, for watering garden and summer cottages, in food production, such as winemaking and home brewing. Such products are divided into two groups: silicone hose and PVC hose. And if in many situations the material from which the tubes are made is not fundamental, then in the manufacture of food products the quality of the hose is of great importance.

PVC Hose Features

Polyvinyl chloride tubes are often used for domestic and industrial purposes. Their main advantage is their low cost. However, in an effort to save money, the consumer often forgets about the properties of this material.

Yes, it is resistant to many aggressive media, such as gasoline, hydrochloric and nitric acids, but only as long as their temperature does not rise above 60 degrees. When heated, the PVC hose begins to burn and release substances that are toxic to humans - dioxides.

Therefore, the use of PVC products is allowed only in cases where they are not supposed to be heated.

Benefits of silicone hoses

This type of product easily tolerates high temperatures, without entering into chemical interaction with the products and environments that are inside them. Among the advantages of silicone products, it should be noted such features as:

Non-toxic, completely safe for humans and animals. Food silicone is a combination of oxygen and silicon, which does not pose any danger or threat to health.
Increased strength and wear resistance.
Resistance to any mechanical impact - bending, squeezing, squeezing. Taking the form required by the user, the material retains its qualities.
Ability to withstand low and high temperatures (from -60 to +250 degrees) without loss of properties.
Anti-adhesion. The inner walls do not attract decay products, so that there is no narrowing of the tube diameter.
Ease of use and storage. These products are easily twisted, taking up a minimum of space, well stretched, then taking their original shape.
Long service life.

The only downside to silicone is its higher price. Therefore, when choosing a silicone hose or PVC, the consumer can set priorities for himself, giving preference to economy or product quality.

How to distinguish silicone from PVC

Quite often it happens that the manufacturer deceives consumers by passing off silicone as PVC. Therefore, before you go shopping, you should know how to distinguish silicone hose from PVC. There are several ways to do this:

These tricks will allow you to easily determine whether the store offers you a PVC hose or silicone. And what to choose is already a personal matter for everyone.

The design of the distiller assumes the presence of a number of compounds in it. For tightness, silicone hoses for moonshine are often used - they are notable for their low cost, which does not come at the expense of reliability. In addition to this solution, copper or stainless steel tubes are also used, but they require the use of welding or soldering, which is sometimes difficult to implement, especially in simple home devices.

1

On sale you can find 2 types of connecting hoses made of polymer material. In addition to high-quality silicone tubes, an assortment of hardware stores offers their PVC counterparts. They practically do not differ in appearance, but at elevated temperatures they behave very unpredictably: they change shape, begin to stretch, sag and release harmful substances that affect the taste and smell of moonshine.

Silicone tubes for moonshine

How can you tell food grade silicone tubing from technical PVC tubing? There are several simple methods, which will help you deal with the question posed directly at the time of purchase. First, silicone is more soft material, it has high elasticity and pliability. It is easily compressed in the hands, and after the end of exposure, it returns to its original shape. Secondly, if you are in a store or market, ask the seller to cut off a small piece of hose and set it on fire with a match or lighter. Silicone practically does not support combustion, and after prolonged heating a dense crust forms on it white color. Polyvinyl chloride burns very well, emitting copious black soot and bad smell burnt rubber.

When choosing silicone tubes for a moonshine still, you should not 100% trust the opinion of sellers, because often they themselves do not know the differences between this material and PVC and may unconsciously mislead you. You need to focus only on the listed signs and the cost of the hose - the price of silicone is about 2 times higher.

2

To avoid unnecessary loss of a valuable product and ensure the complete tightness of the moonshine still, it is necessary to securely fix the silicone tubes at the junctions. To do this, it is very convenient to use a plumbing squeegee, the diameter of which matches the internal size of the hose. A small hole is drilled in the lid of the distillation cube, into which the drive is installed, after which it is twisted from the inside with a nut. For reliability, it is recommended to use a rubber gasket or silicone sealant at the joints.

Fixing silicone tubes at the junctions

The hoses for the distiller will be held on more securely if they are additionally secured with small metal clamps. The fact is that when heated, the tube expands slightly, and this can contribute to depressurization of the system.

The use of high-quality connecting elements in the distiller is a guarantee of the high quality of the final product, the absence of foreign smell and taste.

Attaching silicone hoses for moonshine is very simple, and if necessary, they can be easily replaced with new ones, which cannot be said about steel or copper counterparts. In addition, tubes made of polymeric materials take much less space during storage or transportation. Physical properties food silicone ensure its reliability: they do not interact with alcohol and are slightly susceptible to the operating temperature of the moonshine still.

And some secrets...

Russian scientists of the Department of Biotechnology have created a drug that can help in the treatment of alcoholism in just 1 month.

The main difference of the drug is ITS 100% NATURALITY, which means efficiency and safety for life:

eliminates psychological cravings
eliminates breakdowns and depression
protects liver cells from damage
Gets out of heavy drinking in 24 HOURS
COMPLETE RELEASE from alcoholism, regardless of the stage
very affordable price.. only 990 rubles

Course reception in just 30 DAYS provides a comprehensive SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM WITH ALCOHOL.
The unique ALKOBARRIER complex is by far the most effective in the fight against alcohol addiction.

Follow the link and find out all the benefits of an alcohol barrier

Consider what physico-chemical properties silicone has, and what advantages it gives:

temperature stability — temperature range from -60°С to +300°С;
anti-adhesive properties (non-stickiness) - particles of decomposition products will not accumulate on the inner walls, which can reduce the diameter of the hole, and eventually completely clog the hose;
chemical inertness - does not enter into compounds with other substances, due to which it does not decompose even under the influence of the most aggressive of them;
flexibility - takes the necessary shape without deformation and damage after compression, bending;
resistance to mechanical stress - it is quite difficult to spoil this material at home.

There are several other properties that follow directly from the above. Silicone hoses are convenient to store and transport when folded: they take up little space (compared to metal ones) and easily restore their original shape even after twisting. Flexibility and elasticity simplifies the installation process. The material stretches well, sits on the fitting and, taking its original shape, is tightly fixed.

Due to the fact that nothing is collected inside, care becomes much easier and faster. But this does not cancel the cleaning as a whole. After use, the hose must in any case be rinsed under running water, including inside. And then be sure to dry it. The appearance of a fungus is possible even on such a wonderful material.

Damage resistance allows silicone moonshine hoses to be more durable. In terms of service life, they, of course, are inferior to metal tubes, but they are significantly superior to PVC and rubber. The situation is similar with the cost. More expensive than PVC, but more affordable than metal.

Selection of silicone hoses

The range of silicone hoses is very wide and allows you to choose them for any equipment, both factory and handicraft. Varies in size and color scheme. And if the second indicator is not so important, then the size parameters should be given attention.

Depending on the purpose and scope of application, the cross-sectional diameter varies from 2 mm to 50 mm. For moonshine stills, hoses are usually used, the diameter of which is from 5 mm to 8 mm. It is optimal to use hoses with a wall thickness of 1.5-2 mm.

When buying a silicone tube for a moonshine still, you may encounter a new difficulty. Polyvinyl chloride is often sold under the guise of silicone. To distinguish them, you need to know some features. First, silicone is softer to the touch and more elastic. But PVC manufacturers do not stand still. Therefore, the most the right way checks are a small laboratory experiment. The main thing is that the seller gives you the opportunity to carry it out.

The behavior of these two materials during combustion is strikingly different. If you try to set fire to the edge of the silicone tube, then neither ignition nor melting will occur. A faint white smoke will appear, and the set fire to the edge will be covered with dense white ash. Polyvinyl chloride, when exposed to open fire, melts, turns black and emits acrid black smoke. In this case, it is difficult to confuse them.

There is another way. True, you can only check the already purchased goods. If you put PVC hose in the freezer, it will freeze and lose its flexibility and softness. Silicone will retain its natural properties. As stated above, the lower temperature threshold of 60°C is below zero.

If it is not possible to test by fire, it is better to buy equipment in a specialized store. For example, a quality product that is suitable for your purposes can be purchased in medical technology.

Conclusion

Comparison of the characteristics of polyvinyl chloride and silicone clearly outweighs the balance in the direction of the latter. If the cost factor still plays a big role, you can find a kind of compromise.

Silicone should be used to make tubes for moonshine, designed for the movement of finished moonshine, fusel oils, heavy metals, hot steam. Water inlet and outlet can be made of PVC hoses. This is not as critical, but more economical.

In the design of the moonshine still, hoses are needed to supply water to the refrigerator and dephlegmator, as well as to drain the finished moonshine into a receiving container. It is best to use only silicone, because he has optimal performance for our craft. For 95% moonshine stills you will need silicone tubing diameter 8 mm(usually the diameter of the fitting goes to 10, so we set our "eight" made of silicone to the tightness and everything works fine).

We invite you to explore a number of features related to selection, purchase and connection these hoses to the moonshine still. Why are they so much better than PVC (polyvinyl chloride) tubes and can polyurethane analogues be used?

Don't believe me. Silicone! Ideally, it should be food (IRP-1338), but even the usual one after the first distillation is well washed and does not stink. Always rinse tubing well before use, just in case.

In second place is polyurethane. It also has good properties of food material, but it is less convenient. It bends badly, holds uncertainly, does not stretch. Therefore, if you are offered a silicone or polyurethane hose, then give preference to the first option.

On the third is PVC. Polyvinyl chloride quickly begins to smell bad, deform and tan. It spoils the taste of moonshine over time and is inconvenient to use. It is better to refuse it.

Silicone.
PVC (polyvinyl chloride).
Polyurethane.

Where is the best place to buy a silicone hose (cheaper and 100% guaranteed)

A few places where you can really buy a good silicone tube:

It is on Ali that you can buy a cheap and high-quality hose.

Ali Express (AliExpress). The Chinese online store offers excellent pipes at a price of 60 rubles per meter (diameter 8 mm). There are many sellers, the quality is about the same everywhere, so look for free shipping and place an order.
Car shop (especially for foreign cars). I don’t know in services for Russian cars, but good silicone hoses with a diameter of 8 mm are definitely sold for foreign cars.
In specialized moonshine stores. Small sellers can slip a fake, but normal guys will always sell you decent material.
Large construction stores (Leroy Merlin). And also where there is plumbing, goods for summer cottages and home ... In general, there are many places.

If you are not in a hurry, then the easiest way to order is from China. Very low prices and decent quality.

What silicone hose looks like and how to distinguish it

Key features and distinctive features various materials:

Silicone transparent, whitish, soft. Stretches well. It does not burn and does not smoke with blackness, and when heated, it emits white ash.
Polyurethane usually red or blue (for hot and cold water). It is more rigid and bends much worse.
Everything else is PVC or other material that does not suit us.

In the video below you can see how to distinguish silicone from PVC using ignition and combustion.

I have never done this myself, but everything is perfectly visible and clear on the video. Good way!

How to connect a hose to a moonshine still and water

To connect to the moonshine still, we use union. Two fittings at and two at the refrigerator. The water inlet goes to the bottom connection, and the water outlet to the top.

Fastening is usually not required, as silicone with a diameter of 8 mm sits normally on a 10 mm fitting. In extreme cases, you can use a metal clamp (for reliability).

The hose can be connected to the faucet using fitting, divertor or sealant covers. Details about all these methods are written in the publication about, so we will not dwell on this moment.