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Engineering Plastic Tubes & Pipes: Material Selection and Applications

Material Comparison for Tubing

Material	Max Temp (°C)	Best For	Limitations
PEEK	250	High-pressure, high-purity fluid lines	Highest cost
PTFE	260	Chemical transfer, low friction, electrical	Cold flow under compression
PVDF	150	High-purity water, chemical lines	Attacked by strong alkalis
PA12	90	Pneumatics, fuel lines, flexible routing	Moisture swelling (less than PA6)
POM	100	Precision mechanical tubing, bushings	Not for strong acids
PC	120	Transparent sight tubes, electrical conduit	Poor solvent resistance
UHMW-PE	80	Abrasive slurry lines	Low pressure rating

Specifying Wall Thickness and Tolerances

· Pressure duty — wall thickness scales with pressure and inversely with allowable stress

· Temperature derating — allowable stress drops sharply above 60–80°C for most polymers

· Tolerance class — tubing is normally specified by ID and OD with separate tolerances

· Concentricity — matters for bearings and pneumatic seals; check before ordering

· Fit and finish — machined, extruded, or honed bore depending on application

Working with Plastic Tubing

Thermoplastic tubing bends with heat, flares with the right tooling, and bonds with solvent cements (PVC) or adhesives. PTFE and UHMW-PE cannot be solvent-bonded and must be mechanically connected or surface-treated first. For pressurised systems, always pressure-test at the maximum operating temperature — a tube rated at 20°C may carry only half that pressure at 100°C. Where chemical compatibility is uncertain, check our chemical resistance references before committing to a material.

Common Applications

· Semiconductor — high-purity chemical delivery and DI water lines (PEEK, PVDF)

· Medical — catheter and device tubing, sterilisation-safe fluid paths (PEEK, PTFE)

· Industrial — pneumatic cylinders, air lines, lubrication systems (PA12, PU)

· Electrical — insulating sleeves and spacers in motors and transformers (PTFE, PEEK)

· Food & beverage — product transfer lines requiring FDA compliance (PVDF, POM)

A note on sourcing: tubing is usually bought by the metre for prototyping and by the length for production, but the tolerance class accepted at the prototype stage tends to become the tolerance you are stuck with. Specify ID and OD tolerances explicitly, request concentricity data where the tube acts as a bearing or seal surface, and confirm the maximum continuous temperature for the specific grade rather than the polymer family. The difference between a generic PTFE tube and a pressure-rated one can be a factor of three in burst strength.

Related reading: PVDF Sheet Guide, PEEK Chemical Resistance Chart, and Engineering Plastics for Pumps, Valves & Seals.

FAQ

Q1: What is the strongest plastic tubing material?

PEEK offers the best combination of pressure capability, temperature, and chemical resistance. Filled PEEK grades raise stiffness further for high-pressure hydraulic lines.

Q2: Can plastic tubing carry compressed air?

Yes — PA12 and polyurethane tubing are industry standard for pneumatics. Confirm the pressure rating at the actual operating temperature, not at ambient.

Q3: How do I bend plastic tubing?

Thermoplastic tubing can be bent with heat (hot air or a forming jig). PTFE and UHMW-PE do not bend cleanly and are usually supplied pre-formed or in coil.

Q4: Is plastic tubing suitable for high-purity applications?

PEEK, PVDF, and PTFE are standard in semiconductor and pharmaceutical fluid systems thanks to low extractables and excellent chemical resistance.

Q5: How do I join plastic tubes?

Options include compression fittings, flared connections, heat welding, and adhesives. PTFE and UHMW-PE require mechanical connections because adhesives will not bond reliably.

Need PEEK, PTFE, or PVDF tubing and machined fluid components? Contact NAGOMER for stock shapes and finished parts to drawing.

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NAGOMER — Professional Engineering Plastics Solutions

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