Product description
Reinforced braided silicone tubing is designed for pharmaceutical, biotechnology and hygienic process applications requiring greater pressure resistance than conventional unreinforced silicone tubing.
The tubing consists of platinum-cured silicone with an integrated synthetic fabric reinforcement. This construction combines the flexibility and transparency of silicone with increased mechanical strength for fluid transfer, manifolds and filtration processes.
Technical overview
Braided silicone tubing is used where a flexible process line must withstand higher working pressures while maintaining visual access to the process fluid. The transparent tubing allows operators to monitor liquid flow, bubbles and process conditions during operation.
The product-contact material is platinum-cured silicone rubber. A synthetic fabric reinforcement is embedded in the tubing wall to increase pressure resistance compared with standard silicone tubing.
The smooth internal surface supports hygienic fluid handling and facilitates cleaning where the tubing is used in reusable process applications. Production takes place under ISO Class 7 cleanroom conditions.
Operating principle
Process fluid flows through the smooth silicone inner bore while the braided reinforcement within the tubing wall provides additional mechanical support. As internal pressure increases, the reinforcement limits radial expansion of the silicone and helps the tubing maintain its geometry.
This allows reinforced silicone tubing to operate at higher working pressures than comparable non-reinforced silicone tubing while retaining the flexibility required for routing between vessels, filters, pumps and process equipment.
The transparent construction also permits continuous visual monitoring of the fluid path during transfer and processing.
Material options
The standard construction consists of:
- Product-contact material: platinum-cured silicone rubber
- Reinforcement: synthetic fabric braid
- Appearance: transparent
The silicone is specified as tasteless and odourless and is suitable for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, food and cosmetic process applications.
If different chemical resistance, pressure capability or temperature performance is required, alternative reinforced tubing constructions should be considered separately.
Available micron ratings
Not applicable. Reinforced silicone tubing is a fluid-transfer component and does not contain filtration media. It therefore has no micron or pore-size rating.
Where filtration is required, the tubing can be connected to an appropriate capsule, membrane or other process filter within the same fluid path.
Design and construction
The tubing combines a smooth platinum-cured silicone fluid-contact layer with an integrated braided reinforcement. The reinforced wall increases working and burst-pressure capability while retaining flexibility for pharmaceutical and bioprocess installations.
Available sizes range from approximately 3.18 mm to 31.75 mm internal diameter. Working pressure depends on tubing size.
| Inner diameter | Outer diameter | Working pressure | Burst pressure | Minimum bend radius |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.18 mm | 9.81 mm | 15 bar | 45 bar | 30 mm |
| 4.72 mm | 11.35 mm | 15 bar | 45 bar | 35 mm |
| 6.35 mm | 13.03 mm | 15 bar | 45 bar | 40 mm |
| 7.93 mm | 14.61 mm | 12 bar | 36 bar | 45 mm |
| 9.52 mm | 16.32 mm | 12 bar | 36 bar | 50 mm |
| 12.70 mm | 20.10 mm | 10 bar | 30 bar | 65 mm |
| 15.87 mm | 24.37 mm | 8 bar | 24 bar | 75 mm |
| 19.05 mm | 27.91 mm | 8 bar | 24 bar | 80 mm |
| 22.20 mm | 31.12 mm | 5 bar | 15 bar | 100 mm |
| 25.40 mm | 34.50 mm | 5 bar | 15 bar | 120 mm |
| 31.75 mm | 40.80 mm | 4 bar | 12 bar | 150 mm |
Sterilisation and conformity
The tubing is suitable for both gamma sterilisation and autoclaving and is produced under ISO Class 7 cleanroom conditions.
Available conformity references include:
- USP Class VI
- 3-A Standards
- FDA conformity
- European Pharmacopoeia 3.1.9
- ISO 10993-4
- ISO 10993-5
- ISO 10993-11
- BSE/TSE conformity
- Non-cytotoxic according to ISO 10993-5
- Gamma-sterilisable
- Autoclavable
- ISO Class 7 cleanroom production
Typical applications
Reinforced braided silicone tubing is used where flexible tubing must combine hygienic product contact with increased pressure capability.
- Pharmaceutical fluid transfer
- Bioprocess liquid transfer
- Single-use and multi-use tubing assemblies
- Fluid distribution manifolds
- Filtration processes
- High-pressure tubing applications
- Process vessel connections
- Buffer and media transfer
- Food and beverage processing
- Cosmetic manufacturing
Key benefits
- Increased pressure capability: braided reinforcement supports higher working pressures than standard unreinforced silicone tubing.
- High flexibility: suitable for routing flexible process connections between equipment.
- Transparent construction: allows continuous visual monitoring of process fluid.
- Platinum-cured silicone: suitable for demanding pharmaceutical and biotechnology fluid-contact applications.
- Smooth internal surface: supports hygienic fluid transfer and facilitates cleaning in reusable applications.
- Sterilisation flexibility: suitable for gamma sterilisation and autoclaving.
- Wide dimensional range: available from approximately 3.18 mm to 31.75 mm inner diameter.
- Cleanroom production: manufactured under ISO Class 7 cleanroom conditions.
Configuration and quotation
Reinforced silicone tubing should be selected according to the required dimensions, working pressure, bend radius, process fluid and sterilisation method.
For technical selection and quotation, provide the following information where available:
- Required inner diameter
- Required outer diameter
- Required tubing length
- Maximum operating pressure
- Required burst-pressure margin
- Minimum bend radius
- Process fluid
- Operating temperature
- Gamma irradiation or autoclave requirement
- Required conformity documentation
- Required quantity or annual demand
- Whether the tubing will be supplied loose or integrated into an assembly
The tubing can also be incorporated into custom transfer lines, manifolds, filtration systems and other pharmaceutical or bioprocess tubing assemblies.