Inflexibility, cracks, punctures – if these problems have plagued your tubing, then it’s time for you to switch to polyurethane tubing. Polyurethane tubing provides excellent flexibility, and resists the kinds of damage that can lead to dangerous leaks.
At Freelin-Wade, our catalog includes polyurethane tubing in a range of sizes and configurations; no matter what your application, we have the type of tubing you need. In our catalog, you’ll find Polyurethane tubing offered in the following styles:
- Fre-thane tubing
- Static dissipative tubing
- Multi-colored ribbon tubing
- Purflex flexible hoses
- Ribbon coils
- Reinforced flexible hoses
- Flexible coiled hoses
Freelin-Wade’s Fre-Thane tubing has a high resistance to abrasion while being highly flexible and kink resistant. Fre-Thane will stretch and flex but always return to its original shape – that’s the “memory” that makes Fre-Thane tubing extra special.
Fre-thane Features & Benefits:
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- Extremely flexible with excellent memory.
- Kink & abrasion resistant.
- Low gas permeability, extractables and compression set.
- Resistant to chemicals, water, fuel, oil and fungus.
- Transparent and opaque colors.
Freelin-Wade began manufacturing polyurethane and urethane tubing in 1980 and it remains our core product to this day. It is available in 28 in-stock colors and a virtually infinite number of color variations. Fre-Thane is Freelin-Wade’s most versatile product, with more options and variations available than with any other tubing.
History of Polyurethane Tubing
During the Second World War, the Armed Forces needed rubber for military vehicles. As a result, US manufacturers had to give up using rubber – and rely on new and innovative materials instead. In 1937, a German chemist named Fredrich Bayer created Polyurethane, and during World War 2, manufacturers realized that it was an excellent substitute for the rubber they could no longer use. Initially, commercial manufacturers used polyurethane to make light, stretchy fabric.
Because manufacturers discovered the many benefits of Polyurethane tubing – such as its flexibility and memory – scientists made efforts to improve its resistance to light and heat.
Classes of Polyurethane
There are two general classes of polyurethane and both are commonly found in the market: ether-base and ester-base. Chemically, these are made from two different polyol alcohols that cause similar, but different reactions in the isocyanate. From the user’s standpoint, the ester-based polymer is less expensive however it degrades when exposed to moisture. Because of this, we manufacture our Fre-Thane® polyurethane tubing using the ether-based material. Using urethane tubing reduces the chances of deterioration due to contamination or brittleness.
Polyurethane 70A Technical Data Sheet