The Best Materials for Hydraulic Tube in High-pressure Applications

Stainless steel materials

1. Performance advantages

Stainless steel hydraulic tubes have excellent corrosion resistance, which enables them to resist the erosion of various corrosive media under high-pressure environments. For example, in hydraulic systems in marine engineering or high-pressure hydraulic equipment in chemical production, stainless steel hydraulic tubes (such as 316L stainless steel) can effectively resist the corrosion of seawater, acidic or alkaline chemicals, thereby ensuring the stability and safety of the hydraulic system.

Stainless steel pipes are high in strength and can withstand high pressures. Its good yield strength and tensile strength make it not easy to break or deform under high pressure. Generally speaking, the tensile strength of 304 stainless steel hydraulic tubes can reach more than 520MPa, which can meet the strength requirements of many high-pressure application scenarios.

2. Applicable scenarios

Applicable to hydraulic systems with extremely high requirements for cleanliness and corrosion resistance, such as high-pressure hydraulic equipment in the food processing industry and hydraulic systems in drug production equipment in the pharmaceutical industry. In these environments, stainless steel hydraulic tubes can not only withstand high pressure, but also ensure the purity of the fluid and prevent the pipeline material from contaminating the product.

Carbon steel material (specially treated)

1. Performance advantages

Carbon steel pipe has a high strength, and its performance can be further improved after proper heat treatment and surface treatment. For example, carbon steel hydraulic tubes treated by quenching and tempering can achieve a good balance between hardness and toughness and can withstand higher pressure. Moreover, the cost of carbon steel is relatively low, which has certain advantages in some high-pressure hydraulic systems that are more cost-sensitive.

For some carbon steel hydraulic tubes with protective coatings inside, their corrosion resistance can also be enhanced. For example, applying a layer of anti-corrosion paint on the inner wall of the pipe or using electroplating and other processes can effectively prevent moisture and impurities in the hydraulic oil from corroding the carbon steel pipe.

2. Applicable scenarios

Commonly used in high-pressure hydraulic systems of some industrial machinery, such as hydraulic tubes in construction machinery (excavators, cranes, etc.). These equipment have high strength requirements for hydraulic tubes, but the working environment is relatively less harsh. Carbon steel hydraulic tubes that have been properly treated can meet their performance and cost requirements.

High-performance engineering plastic materials such as polyamide (PA)

1. Performance advantages

Engineering plastic hydraulic tubes have good flexibility, which allows them to adapt to a certain degree of bending and deformation under high-pressure environments, and will not break as easily as metal pipes. For example, polyamide hydraulic tubes can maintain good elasticity under high pressure, and their elastic modulus is relatively low. When under pressure, they can buffer pressure through their own elastic deformation.

The inner wall of this type of material is smooth, which can effectively reduce the resistance of hydraulic fluid when flowing in the pipeline, thereby improving the efficiency of the hydraulic system. At the same time, they also have good chemical corrosion resistance and can provide good compatibility for some non-corrosive hydraulic oils or specific chemical media.

2. Applicable scenarios

Applicable to some high-pressure hydraulic systems that require weight and flexibility, such as some hydraulic equipment in the aerospace field. In the hydraulic system of an aircraft, polyamide hydraulic tubes can meet the high-pressure requirements of the system while reducing weight, and can adapt to various complex working conditions during the flight of the aircraft.

Summary

In high-pressure working conditions, the selection of hydraulic tubes is crucial. Different materials have their own advantages and are suitable for different scenarios. Stainless steel materials are the preferred choice for industries such as marine engineering, chemical industry, food processing and pharmaceutical industry due to their excellent corrosion resistance and high strength, ensuring system stability and fluid purity. Carbon steel materials, after special treatment, are suitable for hydraulic tubes of construction machinery due to their high cost performance, meeting strength requirements while taking cost considerations into account. High-performance engineering plastic materials such as polyamide are used in the aerospace field due to their good flexibility, smooth inner wall and chemical compatibility, meeting the needs of weight and adaptability to complex working conditions.