The main material of sandblasting hoses is PTFE, which has many chemical structures, primarily composed of PET, PU, EVA, and polyethylene. Therefore, when selecting sandblasting hoses, we must consider not only the material’s abrasion resistance but also its sufficient elasticity. Special attention should also be paid to whether the hose exhibits adverse performance due to bending or tangling. Simultaneously, the hose itself needs sufficient toughness to withstand bending and tangling. Since sandblasting hoses are mainly made of PET and EVA, to achieve optimal performance, attention must be paid to their water resistance, abrasion resistance, and other properties; the hose material and application environment must also be considered, ensuring that the usage environment is free of hard, corrosive substances and foreign objects. Let’s look at the various characteristics that sandblasting hoses need to exhibit in industrial applications!
- Abrasion Resistance
The abrasion resistance of sandblasting hoses is mainly due to the composition of PET and EVA materials, thus these two materials have excellent abrasion resistance. During processing, the hose deformation time should be minimized to improve processing efficiency and precision. Because the hose is made of resin materials, its abrasion resistance is greatly improved. This is an important indicator of hose abrasion resistance. To ensure the hose is not damaged by any mechanical impact, and to extend its service life, it must be able to withstand continuous impact or damage and recover its original performance well. Therefore, the wear resistance and service life of the material should be considered when selecting the hose material.
- Corrosion Resistance
PTFE has excellent water resistance and is insoluble in any solvent due to its good electrical insulation properties, a characteristic that some corrosion-resistant materials used in chemical media lack. For example, it can withstand aqueous and chemical solutions, allowing for sandblasting operations; however, care should be taken when selecting hoses for chemical and alkaline media. Generally, PTFE hoses can withstand the corrosiveness of chemical media such as sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, and nitric acid. Furthermore, PTFE hoses are also resistant to most solvents and salts. However, due to its relatively stable chemical properties, materials with certain properties and water resistance (including EVA) should generally be selected. PTFE hoses have excellent UV resistance, antibacterial properties, and high-temperature resistance. PTFE is an excellent flame-retardant material or heat-resistant aging coating. It provides excellent shielding against corrosive gases and liquids; it is non-corrosive, heat-resistant, and resistant to chemical solvents; it has good self-cleaning properties and can clean dust from pipes. Furthermore, PTFE has excellent chemical corrosion resistance. PTFE hoses can meet the safety and stability requirements of various industries, so special treatment is required to prevent corrosion damage. Their service life is generally no less than 3-5 years, and they offer greater flexibility in use. The material’s high technical content and development difficulty have led to its market recognition and acceptance. The sandblasting industry operates in various environments with properties different from metallic media; therefore, even with PTFE, products that meet various performance requirements and have a suitable service life must be selected. When sandblasting is required or a new sandblasting hose needs to be replaced, care must be taken to ensure the sandblasting hose is connected to other components. It is also important to monitor for signs of aging during use. Especially for applications involving long-term operation where cleaning is not possible or damage from water pressure is possible, PTFE can be used as a substitute for PVC products. Other materials can also be used to make sandblasting hoses instead of PVC pipes or metal water pipes. However, for PE materials, the rating cannot exceed level 2. For higher ratings, appropriate antioxidants, corrosion inhibitors, or other anti-corrosion measures must be added for protection.
- Wear Resistance, Acid Resistance, Alkali Resistance, and Organic Solvent Resistance
Sandblasting hoses are made of special materials with excellent resistance to acids, alkalis, and organic solvents, making them particularly suitable for conveying corrosive liquids and sandblasting operations. This characteristic is mainly reflected in the material’s stability under long-term high temperatures and corrosive environments, allowing for long-term use without deformation. Because these hoses are non-porous, they are not easily damaged. They are corrosion-resistant in the presence of corrosive substances. However, due to their lack of alkali resistance, high-purity NaOH solutions must be used; otherwise, corrosion may occur. However, due to their high hardness, they are generally unsuitable as equipment piping materials; and the relatively rigid PE hoses can have some adverse environmental impacts. Therefore, when used in industry, hoses with good performance and good flexibility should be considered, as they can withstand greater pressure and maintain their value. What factors need to be considered when choosing a sandblasting hose? This is a very important question! If you want sandblasting to proceed smoothly and achieve good results and benefits, it must be done better! Only in this way can the sandblasting hose achieve better results and more advantages! When we introduce the properties of PTFE above, we need to pay attention to many factors, so we should consider multiple factors when choosing a sandblasting hose.
- Tear Resistance
During use, hoses may tear due to factors such as high pressure and bending. This tearing can cause damage, twisting, and deformation of the hose during use. This will seriously affect the performance, service life, and overall lifespan of the product. Therefore, special attention should be paid to the tear resistance of sandblasting hoses when selecting them. Tear resistance refers to the ability of a tear-resistant hose to withstand external forces without damage under various conditions; however, the degree of tear resistance depends on the material itself and whether the manufacturer can effectively adjust this property. Only when the tear resistance is high enough can leakage and resulting losses be effectively prevented. If the hose is made of a flexible material, its abrasion resistance will be greatly improved; conversely, it will tear because they have a certain degree of toughness: in particular, some abrasion-resistant plastic materials (such as polyethylene) also have a certain degree of flexibility.