What Types of Rubber Are Used in Duct Hoses?

There are two types of rubber used in our flexible duct products, thermoplastic rubber and neoprene.

1. Thermoplastic rubber is a relatively new class of rubber that combines some of the qualities of plastics with that of elastomers. It has the resilience of vulcanized natural rubber or nitrile. But it also has excellent flexibility, strength and better plasticity. Thermoplastic rubbers have better functional qualities at significantly lower material costs. Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) are sometimes referred to as thermoplastic rubbers (TPR). The benefit of using thermoplastic elastomers in a hose is its ability to stretch to moderate elongations and return to its near original shape creating a longer life and better physical range than other rubber products. Thermoplastics also have a wider a working temperature range. Generally, a Thermoplastic hose can operate effectively between -60°F and +275°F. This is really a great quality since a high temp rubber hose is far less expensive that one made from silicone. The key properties of thermoplastic rubber include excellent fatigue resistance, chemical resistance, impact resistance, and high recyclability. Thermoplastic flexible ducts offer better overall results are a lower price-point.
2. Neoprene is a special kind of synthetic rubber that is manufactured through the processing of the material chloroprene. The first successful synthetic rubbers, known as neoprene, was developed by DuPont by a scientist named of E. K. Bolton. Neoprene was highly valued during the war effort as the supply of Natural rubber, coming from South America and Africa, had been erratic. Neoprene’s ability to resist heat and chemicals such as oil and gasoline, and its use as an insulating material in machinery made it even more valuable as WWII ensued and the automotive industry blossomed. Neoprene rubber is a highly flexible and stable material, even when applied in a thin layer and bent repeatedly. For this reason, neoprene is often used as a seal or gasketing material to protect two hard surfaces from coming together. In flexible ducting, neoprene is a coating that is added to a fabric. Since fabrics like polyester are flexible and offer good flex fatigue, meaning they do no crack or rip easily when flexed, they make a good material for a flexible hose. What the industry often calls “canvas” ducting are coated fabric ducts that behave like a canvas and are made from polyester that has been dipped in an elastomer like neoprene. Neoprene coated polyester ducts are used in material handling and air ventilation applications because of their durability when flexed. In addition, the thickness of the ductwork, or the dipped fabric, can be amended with added coatings.

“Thermoplastic Flex Light-Duty”

What is a Flexible Rubber Duct Used for?

Flexible rubber hoses have a broad range of qualities that allows for their use in very different types of industries. What are rubber hoses used for? Here are 5 applications that rubber duct hoses are used for.

1. Air ventilation has a tremendous demand for flexible ducts that can ventilate large volumes of air while withstanding the elements. Hoses used in temporary ventilation need to resist weathering and the outdoors, they also need to be very compressible and flexible. Our Wind Handler series of ducts are single-ply neoprene coated polyester fabric hose reinforced with a spring steel wire helix. Theis neoprene coated ductwork are durable, compressible and flexible.
2. Fumes, since Both Neoprene and Thermoplastic rubbers exhibit excellent chemical resistance, flexible rubber ducts like our Neoprene-Flex series are a great option for chemical fume movement. Neoprene is renowned for its resistance to petroleum solutions. This includes many fumes that are generated from solvents, and oils. Neoprene can also withstand methyl and ethyl alcohols and some alkaline solutions. Hoses made from neoprene make for an exceptional rubber exhaust hose.
3. Abrasive dust removal as an application makes perfect sense for both thermoplastic and neoprene coated fabric hoses. Woodworking dust, or by products of sand and gravel when moved through a hose, can be very abrasive. Rubber is the perfect wear surface to handle this abrasion. Flexible rubber ducts are also very affordable and when used as a wear surface are an inexpensive option.
4. Litter and leaf vac collection is an ideal use for a thermoplastic rubber hoses. This class of duct has excellent outdoor life, excellent abrasion resistance and is very flexible. TPR hoses have excellent flex-fatigue which makes them a quality hose for the collection of landscaping byproducts.
5. Woodworking Dust removal in woodworking shops and factories is imperative. Wood dust is also associated with cancers, irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, dermatitis, and respiratory system effects which include decreased lung capacity and allergic reactions. Flexible rubber ducts are an excellent abrasion resistant option for woodworkers looking to purchase a hose on a budget.

“Thermoplastic Flex Super Reinforced”

“Neoprene Flex – 2 Ply WS”

What is the Temperature Range of a Rubber Hose?

Generally thermoplastic hoses can handle from a -60°F to a +275°F while neoprene coated fabric hoses operate between -40°F and +250°F. In addition, neoprene coated fiberglass fabric hoses handle up to +300°F, which is ideal for some automotive applications.

In terms of working temperature range a rubber exhaust hose occupies a very interesting space. Since PVC and vinyl hoses can only handle up to +160°F, and silicone coated fiberglass ducts handle up to +550°F, there is a gap this space for an effective temperature tolerant hose. If an operator needs a quality high temp hose that operates beyond +160°F, then they will have to use either silicone coated fiberglass or a flexible rubber duct hose. If +250°F, +275°F, +300°F are top limits that will work for an operator, then we think that using one of the options in high temp rubber hose is great idea. These hoses have better flexibility, better bend radius, are more affordable, are generally in stock and have far better impact and abrasion resistance than their silicone counterparts.

“Neoprene Flex – 2 Ply”

Application Focus: Using a Rubber Duct Hose for Leaf Vac Removal

What is the best vacuum hose for picking up leaves? We think that rubber is one of the best options.

Leaf vacuum applications require flexible ducts that a durable. Rubber as a class of hose, is one of many choices in the industry. Rubber ducts are more affordable than urethane hoses which makes them an option for the budget conscious. When compared to PVC or vinyl hose options, “Thermoplastic-Flex” or our “Neoprene-Flex” are far more durable. In addition, rubber duct hoses are available with an exterior wear strip. The wear strip is an extra layer of wear surface that is added to the ridges of hoses. This makes for a more durable hose by protecting parts that are exposed to scraping when the duct is dragged around. Urethane and PVC hoses do not offer this feature.

Rubber material handling hose have a variety of grades that allow end users to choose hoses with heavier wall thicknesses vs. lighter options. As the wall thickness of a rubber duct increases, its life expectancy from wear increases as well. However thicker wall hoses are less flexible, heavier and less compressible. Leaf and landscaping by products are onto themselves very coarse, abrasive and sometimes sharp. One commonly overlooked offshoot is the collection of dirt, sand and rocks as the leaf collector operates. These media are extremely damaging to the equipment that collects them. Flexible ducts are “sandblasted” when used in this application as is the internal body of the machinery.

Need a longer hose for your leaf vac? We offer rubber hoses in 12.5ft, 25ft and 50ft lengths from inventory. This makes it easy to shop for lengths that you need and if you choose to inventory a length for future consideration, then purchasing a longer hose is probably a smart idea. This reduces downtime and reduces the shipping costs of the product.

“Thermoplastic Flex Medium-Duty”

“Thermoplastic Flex White”

“Thermoplastic Flex Heavy-Duty”

“Neoprene Flex Conductive”

“Neoprene Flex Metal Free”

Application Focus: Can I Use a Rubber Duct to Collect Wood Dust?

What is wood dust?
Wood dust and wood particles are created when machinery and equipment are used to cut, sand or profile lumber. Large volumes of wood particles are produced in lumbermills, furniture-making and other related industries.

Why is wood dust harmful?
Exposure to wood dust has long been associated with a variety of adverse health effects, including dermatitis, allergic respiratory effects, mucosal and nonallergic respiratory effects, and cancer. The biggest threat to a woodworker comes not in the form of bodily injury from a power tool, but from wood dust.

What are some safety measures to reduce wood dust in a workshop?
Masks, respirators, air filters and air exhaust are all well and good and are a mandatory part of safety equipment. But the most important apparatus needed is a dust collector with a 4-Inch flexible rubber hose.

We offer two distinct types of rubber hose products. For a flexible and economically efficient hose, we offer coated fabric hoses that are coated with rubber. The rubber coated fabric hoses have the added benefit of being available in many size and some very large internal diameter sizes. Rubber ducts up to 52 inches in diameter can be custom made to required lengths.

The second type of rubber ducting product we have available are thermoplastic rubber hoses. These hoses are great industrial rubber hoses because of their fantastic durability and extra resistance to UV light and ozone damage. In addition to protection from ozone and UV damage, the industrial rubber hoses also feature moderate resistance to harsh chemicals. The thermoplastic hoses are a great option for applications that involve temperatures up to 275 degrees Fahrenheit. Even at high temperatures these ducting products retain their flexibility and durability. We stock this hose is sizes from 2-inch diameter to 12-inch ID and can ship them within 24-hours of an order.

Both versions of rubber ducting are available in a variety of wall thickness. This allows the operators to choose between the more flexible thin-walled products or the more wear-resistant thick-walled ducting. Rubber is also an affordable choice as well as a durable option. When compared to polyurethanes or PVC products, this variety of hose offers a middle ground between durability and costs!

“Smooth-Tube TPR”