Many manufacturers of hydraulic hoses are now using a new material for the
core. This is Arnitel®, a thermoplastic ether ester block copolymer elastomer
(TPE-E), from DSM Engineering Plastics. DSM Engineering Plastics is a business
group within the DSM N.V. Performance Materials cluster.
Hydraulic hoses normally have a core overlaid by fibre or metal braid pressure
reinforcement and an outer protective layer. Compared with nitrile rubber and
other traditional materials which it replaces, Arnitel® has many production,
handling and performance advantages.
Importantly, Arnitel® provides a smoother inner surface, superior flexibility
and better hot oil resistance. This means that fluids are easier to pump while
the hoses are easier to handle and have a longer service life. In addition,
cores can be manufactured to any length, including continuous production.
With Arnitel®, the hydraulic hose core can have thinner walls for a given
pressure rating which makes the finished hose lighter and more flexible. Other
properties which make the material ideal include low volumetric expansion
under pressure, little or no oil absorption and low diffusion of gases.
Because Arnitel® requires no processing oils or plasticizers for flexibility,
there is no leaching of contaminants in use.
Arnitel® grades suitable for hydraulic hose core include PM581, PM650, EM550
and EM630, all of which meet SAE J517 specifications.
In addition to hydraulic applications, Arnitel® is extensively used for the
manufacture of personal automotive components, such as armrests and steering
wheel covers. It is also used for automotive components which require
exceptional fatigue resistance and resistance to oil and greases, including
rack and pinion bellows, constant velocity joint (CVJ) boots and air brake
tubing. In the electronic and consumer goods industry, Arnitel® is used for
mobile phone antennas, cable insulation, flexible tubing, handles and pads.
The material can also be found in the most diverse range of other products,
for example from very small, low-noise gears to large, energy and
sound-absorbing railway pads.
