When Does Stainless Flex Hose Become Mandatory? | Hidroman
When Does Stainless Flex Hose Become Mandatory?
In industrial hydraulic and pneumatic systems, hose selection is critical for the safety and continuity of the system. In some special conditions where standard rubber or thermoplastic hoses are insufficient, the use of stainless flex hoses becomes technically mandatory. In this article, we discuss from a technical perspective in which cases stainless flex hose is not a choice but a necessity.
High-Temperature Environments
Standard hydraulic hoses can generallyoperate in the range of -40 °C to +100 / +120 °C. However;
Furnace systems
Foundries
Steam lines
Exhaust and peri-engine applications
The temperaturecan rise to 200 °C and above. In such applications, rubber hoses become stiff, cracked, or fail in a short period.
Stainless flex hoses become mandatory in these environments due to their high-temperature resistant structure.
Very High Pressure Requirement
As the pressure increases in hydraulic systems, the risk of hose bursting also increases. Specifically:
Systems with high impact pressures
Pressure spikes
Circuits operating under continuous high pressure
For standard hoses do not offer a sufficient safety coefficient.
Stainless steel braided flex hoses become a mandatory solution at this point thanks to their high burst pressure and long-lasting structure.
Chemical and Corrosive Fluids
Apart from hydraulic oil in some industrial applications;
Chemical liquids
Acidic or basic fluids
Solvents
Sea water
There are aggressive environments such as. These fluids can quickly degrade the interior surface of rubber hoses.
Stainless flex hose becomes technically mandatory in such applications thanks to its chemical resistance.
Intense Vibration and Mechanical Strain
In mobile hydraulic systems, machine chassis or vibrating equipment, hoses are continuously:
Twisting
Oscillating
Mechanical stress
It is exposed. This causes premature wear on standard hoses.
Stainless flex hoses provide long-term safe use thanks to their vibration damping ability and metal braid structure.
Fire Safety and Risk Areas
The risk of fire is high in areas such as petrochemical plants, refineries, and power plants. Rubber hoses may be flammable.
Stainless flex hose is considered mandatory equipment in such facilities thanks to its resistance to fire .
Long Service Life and Maintenance Cost
Hose replacement in some applications:
Difficult
Costly
Causing a system downtime
It is a process. In such cases, longer-lasting solutions are preferred.
Stainless flex hose reduces the total maintenance cost thanks to its long service life and becomes a necessity rather than a choice.
Conclusion: Choice or Necessity?
If one or more of the following conditions are present, the use of stainless flex hose becomes mandatory:
High temperature
Very high pressure
Chemical fluids
Intense vibration
Risk of fire
Long life expectancy
As Hidroman, we maximize system safety and performance with application-specific stainless flex hose solutions.
Author
Ahmet İpek
Hydraulic Systems Specialist – Hidroman Industrial & OEM Hydraulic Solutions