High-Performance Engineered Plastics
High-Performance Engineered Plastics
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Peristaltic Pump Tubing

Peristaltic Pump Tubing Features and Typical Properties

Peristaltic Pump TubingTygon Tubing: Peristaltic Pump

With Tygon® and other widely recognized tubing brands, Saint-Gobain has been the leader in flexible tubing innovation for over 60 years, offering hundreds of proven formulations for a large variety of critical applications throughout industry and research. Saint-Gobain is uniquely qualified to lead the market growth for peristaltic pumping applications by providing tubing innovations compatible with critical user needs.

Systematic knowledge of polymers, materials research and development of tailored products for specific applications are at the core of our expertise.

Rather than simply manufacture tubing from general commercial compounds, we work closely with leading raw materials suppliers to capitalize on the latest polymer innovations and developmental grades of new materials. We tailor the most appropriate ingredients for our proprietary formulations through blending, mixing, and compounding to achieve optimum material properties.

Consistent tubing performance stems from both strict quality control of formulation ingredients and consistently applied manufacturing practices in our facilities in North America, Europe and Asia. The result is worldwide availability and uniformity of the entire range of peristaltic pump tubings for the user.

There is no universal solution to all peristaltic tubing requirements. That’s why Saint-Gobain offers a broad range of products, each engineered to meet specific needs. Needs such as chemical resistance, controlled flow rates, biocompatibility, barrier to permeation, abrasion resistance, temperature, pressure and visual access. By meeting these requirements, and delivering long flex life, Saint-Gobain peristaltic pump tubings provide the best possible value in use.

 

This page is a general introduction to Peristaltic Pump Tubing.  Additional detailed information is available from the links below or at right. 



 

Key Features for Peristaltic Pump Tubing Selection

The information presented is intended to serve as a guide for selection and specification of peristaltic pump tubings. It is always advisable to test the material under actual service conditions. If field testing is not practical, laboratory tests that simulate field conditions should be employed.

Tubing Life Factors
As a leader in the field of pump tubings, Saint-Gobain has conducted extensive testing to determine the factors that affect tubing life in peristaltic pump applications. No tubing will last forever but by following some simple guidelines, tubing life can be extended. By using the information contained in this brochure, systems can be designed to obtain optimum pump tubing life.

Chemical Attack
One of the key factors affecting pump tubing performance is the fluid being transported. Chemical attack leads to absorption or swelling of the tubing, which will shorten tubing life. The chemical resistance to a specific fluid should always be determined when selecting a pump tubing.

Pressure
Every pumping system always has some degree of back pressure. Pressure will generally increase as the transport line is lengthened or is directed to an elevated outlet. Exceeding the pressure limits of a tubing will decrease its life and lead to tubing rupture.

Pump RPM
The factor with the greatest influence on pump tubing life is the pump rpm rate. As the tubing is impacted by the rollers, it is compressed, squeezed and then released to allow for recovery and a repeat of the flexing cycle. Various tubing materials exhibit different degrees of resistance to this flexural fatigue. The number of impacts a given tubing is able to withstand is finite. Therefore, tubing life expectancy is based on rpm’s and the number of rollers in the pump head.

Wall Compression
The percent to which a pump roller occludes or compresses a tubing also affects its flexural fatigue. This can be controlled by using proper tubing wall thickness for the pump and by using a tubing extruded with consistently tight tolerances to minimize wall thickness variation. Our tests have shown that compression exceeding 25% will significantly shorten pump tubing life.

Viscosity
When highly viscous liquids are to be pumped, a tubing product with high working pressure or vacuum rating should be selected. These ratings are obtained by use of a heavy wall thickness or a material with a higher durometer hardness value.
 


Torque
Low horsepower or low torque pumps require the use of soft low durometer hardness products (or low tensile modulus) to prevent damage to the motor.

Spallation
Tubing breakdown caused by the pump design generates minute particles in the flow stream, which are a normal condition of tubing wear during peristaltic pump use. Selection of a low spallation tubing product in the proper size for the model pump used will minimize the generation of these particles, if this is a concern in the application or process.

Other Factors or Conditions
Other factors for consideration to achieve optimal pump tubing life include proper installation of tubing in the pump (avoid twisting and kinking), frictional drag by the roller or roller guides and temperature of the fluid being transported, as well as the operational environment.