Vistalon For Hose Application

Vistalon EPDM is an excellent choice for hose applications, especially in the automotive, industrial, and constructionsectors, due to its impressive resistance to heat, chemicals, ozone, and environmental factors. These hoses are used in systems where reliability, flexibility, and long-term durability are critical.

Key Features of Vistalon EPDM for Hose Applications:

1. Heat Resistance:
   • Vistalon EPDM can withstand temperatures ranging from -50°C to 150°C, making it ideal for hoses that encounter extreme heat, such as coolant hoses, heater hoses, and air intake hoses in automotive engines.
2. Chemical Resistance:
   • Vistalon EPDM is highly resistant to a wide variety of chemicals, including water, steam, glycol-based coolants, and mild acids and alkalis. This makes it a great material for hoses used in cooling systems, industrial fluid transfer, and brake systems.
3. Weather and Ozone Resistance:
   • Vistalon EPDM has excellent resistance to ozone, UV rays, and weathering, ensuring hoses maintain their flexibility and mechanical properties when exposed to outdoor elements, making it suitable for outdoor water hoses, garden hoses, and construction hoses.
4. Flexibility and Durability:
   • EPDM is known for its flexibility even at low temperatures, which helps hoses remain flexible and resistant to kinking or cracking. This feature is particularly beneficial for flexible hoses in tight spaces (e.g., engine compartments).
5. Aging and Oxidation Resistance:
   • Vistalon EPDM retains its properties over long periods, making hoses that last longer and require less frequent replacement, thus reducing maintenance costs.

Types of Hoses Made with Vistalon EPDM:

1. Automotive Hoses

• Coolant Hoses: Vistalon EPDM is commonly used in radiator and heater hoses, as well as coolant system hoses. These hoses need to resist high temperatures and contact with coolants and other engine fluids.
• Air Intake Hoses: EPDM hoses are used for air intake systems due to their flexibility, temperature tolerance, and resistance to ozone and UV exposure.
• Brake System Hoses: EPDM hoses are used for glycol-based brake fluids because of their chemical resistance and ability to withstand the mechanical pressure and heat from braking systems.

2. Industrial and Construction Hoses

• Steam and Water Hoses: Vistalon EPDM is ideal for steam and water hoses used in industrial settings, thanks to its resistance to water, steam, and heat. These hoses are commonly used in high-temperature washdown applications and steam transfer lines.
• Chemical Transfer Hoses: EPDM’s resistance to acids, alkalis, and polar solvents makes it suitable for industrial hoses that transfer chemicals.
• Agricultural and Garden Hoses: EPDM is used in garden and irrigation hoses because of its weather resistance, UV stability, and durability.

3. HVAC Hoses

• EPDM is widely used in HVAC systems for flexible ducting and hoses that handle airflow, hot water, and steam, thanks to its heat and chemical resistance.

Benefits of Vistalon EPDM for Hose Manufacturing:

1. Processing Versatility:
   • Vistalon EPDM can be extruded, molded, or calendared into various hose configurations. It’s also easy to co-extrude with other materials, such as thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), to create hoses with multiple layers for added strength and performance.
2. Enhanced Reinforcement:
   • Hoses made from EPDM can be reinforced with fibers or fabrics to improve burst pressure resistance, making them suitable for high-pressure systems, such as hydraulic hoses or fuel line hoses.
3. Blending Capabilities:
   • Vistalon EPDM can be blended with other rubbers and materials to create hybrid hoses with specific properties. For example, it can be combined with polypropylene to create thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) that offer enhanced processing characteristics and improved flexibility.

Specific Vistalon Grades for Hose Applications:

1. Vistalon 3666:
   • This grade is used in automotive hoses, particularly for coolant and air intake hoses, because of its high ethylene content, which provides excellent mechanical properties and thermal resistance.
2. Vistalon 2504:
   • A versatile grade used for various industrial and automotive hoses due to its flexibility, durability, and resistance to weathering, ozone, and chemicals. It is particularly suitable for automotive coolant hoses and industrial steam hoses.
3. Vistalon 722:
   • This EPDM grade is often used for water and steam hoses in industrial settings because of its excellent resistance to water, steam, and heat.
4. Vistalon 8800:
   • A low-viscosity EPDM with enhanced processability, making it ideal for extrusion applications like automotive hoses that require complex shapes and flexible performance.

Example: Automotive Radiator Hose Application

• Material: Vistalon 3666 EPDM
• Performance Requirements:
  • High-temperature resistance (up to 150°C) for handling engine coolant.
  • Resistance to glycol-based coolants.
  • Durability under continuous vibration and mechanical stress from engine movement.
  • Flexibility to allow for installation in tight engine compartments without kinking.
  • Resistance to aging and oxidation to extend the hose’s service life.
• Solution: Vistalon EPDM provides all these properties, ensuring the hose remains functional for long periods in demanding engine conditions.

Conclusion:

Vistalon EPDM is a top choice for hose applications in automotive, industrial, and construction sectors due to its outstanding performance in extreme environments. Its resistance to heat, weathering, ozone, and chemicals, combined with its flexibility and durability, ensures hoses made with Vistalon EPDM last longer and perform reliably.