Vacuum hoses for laboratory, analytical and process applications
Reichelt Chemietechnik (RCT) stocks vacuum hoses in a wide range of materials, designed specifically for vacuum and suction duties in laboratories, chemical plants and process engineering. They serve as suction lines for filtration, drying and distillation systems and carry off gases and vapours in safety-critical work areas. In industrial process air systems, operators use vacuum hoses wherever they need to convey media under defined vacuum conditions or evacuate process equipment.
Vacuum lines must remain dimensionally stable under cyclic pressure changes, keep permeation low and withstand mechanical loads such as bending and tensile forces. Depending on the medium and the temperature profile, elastomers, thermoplastics, fluoropolymers or metal hose constructions meet these requirements. Today’s vacuum hose solutions cover temperatures from cryogenic duty to hot gas lines. Laboratories, pilot plants, production processes and analytical systems all rely on them.
Vacuum hose materials and their properties
The material largely determines which vacuum hose suits an application, because temperature resistance, chemical resistance, vacuum resistance and mechanical stability all depend on the base material. The RCT range therefore includes elastomers, engineering thermoplastics, fluoropolymers and metal lines, each covering a different performance profile. The overview below summarises the key properties of each material family and the applications they typically serve.
Elastomers for vacuum applications (NR, NBR, silicone)
Elastomer hoses offer a broad range of properties for vacuum systems. NR vacuum hoses combine high elasticity with good temperature stability from -30 °C to +80 °C. Laboratories use them chiefly for suction lines and general vacuum duty where flexibility and leak-tightness come first.
NBR vacuum and laboratory hoses combine good resistance to oils, fuels, greases and many industrial media with high abrasion resistance. Antistatic variants make them suitable for potentially explosive atmospheres and for installations that must prevent electrostatic charge build-up. Vacuum resistance ranges from 60 % to 80 %, depending on the dimension.
Silicone vacuum hoses cover the high-temperature range, with working temperatures up to +200 °C and short-term exposure up to +250 °C. The material resists ozone, UV radiation and ageing, so chemical laboratories, hot air hoses and sterile environments rely on it. Its smooth inner surface also supports hygienic processes.
Thermoplastics for versatile vacuum and suction applications (PUR, PVC, TPEE, PA, UHMW-PE)
Engineering thermoplastics combine mechanical strength with chemical resistance.
PUR vacuum and suction hoses offer high abrasion resistance and withstand greases, oils, petrol and aliphatic hydrocarbons. They remain flexible down to -40 °C and serve as suction hoses in mechanical engineering, environmental technology and process chemistry. FDA- or BfR-compliant variants are also suitable for food contact.
PVC/THOMAVINYL hoses are established suction hoses in food, beverage and laboratory technology. They offer a smooth inner surface, good media resistance and a defined vacuum resistance of up to 0.9 bar. Corrugated variants allow flexible routing and a high degree of movement.
TPEE, PA and UHMW-PE hoses cover applications that call for increased chemical stability, good abrasion resistance or low permeation. Double-jacket UHMW-PE versions offer 80 % vacuum resistance and high resistance to many acids, alkalis and solvents.
Fluoropolymers and special designs (FEP, PTFE/THOMAFLON)
Fluoropolymers such as PTFE and FEP rank among the most universally resistant materials for vacuum hoses. PTFE and FEP hoses show extremely low permeation, high temperature resistance and outstanding chemical resistance. PTFE corrugated pipes with a smooth outer jacket achieve vacuum resistance of up to 0.9 bar. Where an application requires low leakage resistance, RCT supplies selected versions in an antistatic design.
Metal vacuum hoses (stainless steel)
For high vacuum, temperatures up to +550 °C and mechanically demanding routing, RCT supplies annularly corrugated stainless steel hoses. They resist corrosion, remain pressure-stable and handle aggressive media and thermal cycling, such as occur in laboratory plant, vacuum pump systems and reactor systems.
Selection criteria for vacuum hoses
The right vacuum hose depends on the combination of mechanical, thermal and chemical requirements. These kind of products need both dimensional stability and defined recovery behaviour, because vacuum processes can involve local pressure fluctuations, changing bending loads and pulsating flow profiles. Vacuum resistance is a key parameter. It indicates how well a hose keeps its cross-section stable without collapsing or deforming unevenly. Depending on material and wall thickness, values range from around 50 % to 90 % (0.9 bar).
Chemical resistance also plays a central role, because laboratory and chemical hoses frequently come into contact with solvents, cleaning agents, acids, alkalis or oil-laden vapours. Fluoropolymers offer the widest resistance range here, while elastomers and thermoplastics cover specific media and temperature windows depending on the compound. Food and analytical applications may require food-grade suction hoses that comply with FDA, BfR or Regulation (EU) No 10/2011. Thermal load is another decisive factor. Silicone vacuum hoses, for example, handle temperatures up to +200 °C, whereas PUR and PVC versions are intended mainly for moderate temperatures.
Mechanical properties such as bending radius, abrasion resistance and the need for antistatic properties further influence system design. Installations that must reduce ignition hazards require vacuum hoses with a defined leakage resistance of < 10⁶ Ω. The final choice therefore depends on the medium, temperature profile, vacuum level and mechanical installation conditions. Only by weighing all of these parameters together can you ensure that vacuum hoses operate reliably in laboratory or process use and maintain their specified performance over the long term.
Vacuum hoses for demanding applications from Reichelt Chemietechnik
The RCT range includes vacuum hoses in a wide variety of materials, from elastomers and engineering thermoplastics to fluoropolymers and metal lines. This gives you the right solution for laboratory, process and industrial applications, whether you handle chemically aggressive media, high vacuum levels, thermal loads or flexible suction systems. The broad selection of suction hoses lets you match different pressure and temperature profiles precisely. Smooth inner surfaces and defined mechanical properties support reproducible system performance. For technical design decisions, such as choosing between an elastomer hose, a low-permeation fluoropolymer solution or a robust metal line, the RCT online shop provides a comprehensive glossary and the electronic resistance list
Vacuum hoses for laboratory, analytical and process applications
Reichelt Chemietechnik (RCT) stocks vacuum hoses in a wide range of materials, designed specifically for vacuum and suction...
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Vacuum hoses for laboratory, analytical and process applications
Reichelt Chemietechnik (RCT) stocks vacuum hoses in a wide range of materials, designed specifically for vacuum and suction duties in laboratories, chemical plants and process engineering. They serve as suction lines for filtration, drying and distillation systems and carry off gases and vapours in safety-critical work areas. In industrial process air systems, operators use vacuum hoses wherever they need to convey media under defined vacuum conditions or evacuate process equipment.
Vacuum lines must remain dimensionally stable under cyclic pressure changes, keep permeation low and withstand mechanical loads such as bending and tensile forces. Depending on the medium and the temperature profile, elastomers, thermoplastics, fluoropolymers or metal hose constructions meet these requirements. Today’s vacuum hose solutions cover temperatures from cryogenic duty to hot gas lines. Laboratories, pilot plants, production processes and analytical systems all rely on them.
Vacuum hose materials and their properties
The material largely determines which vacuum hose suits an application, because temperature resistance, chemical resistance, vacuum resistance and mechanical stability all depend on the base material. The RCT range therefore includes elastomers, engineering thermoplastics, fluoropolymers and metal lines, each covering a different performance profile. The overview below summarises the key properties of each material family and the applications they typically serve.
Elastomers for vacuum applications (NR, NBR, silicone)
Elastomer hoses offer a broad range of properties for vacuum systems. NR vacuum hoses combine high elasticity with good temperature stability from -30 °C to +80 °C. Laboratories use them chiefly for suction lines and general vacuum duty where flexibility and leak-tightness come first.
NBR vacuum and laboratory hoses combine good resistance to oils, fuels, greases and many industrial media with high abrasion resistance. Antistatic variants make them suitable for potentially explosive atmospheres and for installations that must prevent electrostatic charge build-up. Vacuum resistance ranges from 60 % to 80 %, depending on the dimension.
Silicone vacuum hoses cover the high-temperature range, with working temperatures up to +200 °C and short-term exposure up to +250 °C. The material resists ozone, UV radiation and ageing, so chemical laboratories, hot air hoses and sterile environments rely on it. Its smooth inner surface also supports hygienic processes.
Thermoplastics for versatile vacuum and suction applications (PUR, PVC, TPEE, PA, UHMW-PE)
Engineering thermoplastics combine mechanical strength with chemical resistance.
PUR vacuum and suction hoses offer high abrasion resistance and withstand greases, oils, petrol and aliphatic hydrocarbons. They remain flexible down to -40 °C and serve as suction hoses in mechanical engineering, environmental technology and process chemistry. FDA- or BfR-compliant variants are also suitable for food contact.
PVC/THOMAVINYL hoses are established suction hoses in food, beverage and laboratory technology. They offer a smooth inner surface, good media resistance and a defined vacuum resistance of up to 0.9 bar. Corrugated variants allow flexible routing and a high degree of movement.
TPEE, PA and UHMW-PE hoses cover applications that call for increased chemical stability, good abrasion resistance or low permeation. Double-jacket UHMW-PE versions offer 80 % vacuum resistance and high resistance to many acids, alkalis and solvents.
Fluoropolymers and special designs (FEP, PTFE/THOMAFLON)
Fluoropolymers such as PTFE and FEP rank among the most universally resistant materials for vacuum hoses. PTFE and FEP hoses show extremely low permeation, high temperature resistance and outstanding chemical resistance. PTFE corrugated pipes with a smooth outer jacket achieve vacuum resistance of up to 0.9 bar. Where an application requires low leakage resistance, RCT supplies selected versions in an antistatic design.
Metal vacuum hoses (stainless steel)
For high vacuum, temperatures up to +550 °C and mechanically demanding routing, RCT supplies annularly corrugated stainless steel hoses. They resist corrosion, remain pressure-stable and handle aggressive media and thermal cycling, such as occur in laboratory plant, vacuum pump systems and reactor systems.
Selection criteria for vacuum hoses
The right vacuum hose depends on the combination of mechanical, thermal and chemical requirements. These kind of products need both dimensional stability and defined recovery behaviour, because vacuum processes can involve local pressure fluctuations, changing bending loads and pulsating flow profiles. Vacuum resistance is a key parameter. It indicates how well a hose keeps its cross-section stable without collapsing or deforming unevenly. Depending on material and wall thickness, values range from around 50 % to 90 % (0.9 bar).
Chemical resistance also plays a central role, because laboratory and chemical hoses frequently come into contact with solvents, cleaning agents, acids, alkalis or oil-laden vapours. Fluoropolymers offer the widest resistance range here, while elastomers and thermoplastics cover specific media and temperature windows depending on the compound. Food and analytical applications may require food-grade suction hoses that comply with FDA, BfR or Regulation (EU) No 10/2011. Thermal load is another decisive factor. Silicone vacuum hoses, for example, handle temperatures up to +200 °C, whereas PUR and PVC versions are intended mainly for moderate temperatures.
Mechanical properties such as bending radius, abrasion resistance and the need for antistatic properties further influence system design. Installations that must reduce ignition hazards require vacuum hoses with a defined leakage resistance of < 10⁶ Ω. The final choice therefore depends on the medium, temperature profile, vacuum level and mechanical installation conditions. Only by weighing all of these parameters together can you ensure that vacuum hoses operate reliably in laboratory or process use and maintain their specified performance over the long term.
Vacuum hoses for demanding applications from Reichelt Chemietechnik
The RCT range includes vacuum hoses in a wide variety of materials, from elastomers and engineering thermoplastics to fluoropolymers and metal lines. This gives you the right solution for laboratory, process and industrial applications, whether you handle chemically aggressive media, high vacuum levels, thermal loads or flexible suction systems. The broad selection of suction hoses lets you match different pressure and temperature profiles precisely. Smooth inner surfaces and defined mechanical properties support reproducible system performance. For technical design decisions, such as choosing between an elastomer hose, a low-permeation fluoropolymer solution or a robust metal line, the RCT online shop provides a comprehensive glossary and the electronic resistance list
