When analyzing options for chemical transfers do not just evaluate the hose tube’s chemical compatibility to make a hose assembly selection. Chemical compatibility with the tube it is being transferred in is an extremely important check and one that can easily rule out potential options, but that approach can neglect major issues that will ultimately arise in the future. 

The good news is that the market provides a quality chemical transfer hose assembly for almost every needed application. Starting with the planned use and breaking down each piece of a hose assembly against how it will encounter the media is the best way to avoid unnecessary damage to these important tools. It can also help the end user discover where they can gain the most value from their purchase. For standard chemical transfers at ambient temperatures and moderate pressures, a standard chemical hose may suffice and have a long lifespan. However, even a minor adjustment in the chemical compound, temperature, pressure, flexibility requirements etc. may render a once suitable hose assembly component completely unacceptable. 

As an example, let’s assume an application requires a transfer of Ferric Chloride at room temperature and moderate pressures of 100 PSI or less. If the hose assembly is broken down into its individual components, we can establish full compatibility or a weak link in the process that could cause future issues. For Ferric Chloride at transfer pressures of up to 100 PSI a UHMWPE hose could be used, but the fittings would have to be elevated beyond stainless steel to something like encapsulated PTFE with a gasket of a similar material. In all, a chemical hose assembly is comprised of; 

• Hose Tube – Material must be compatible with chemical being transferred.
• Cover – Should be abrasion resistant to the type of handing your application requires – color can also be an important option to select (read about why customers love orange safety chemical hose).
• Fittings – What type of fitting, what material type (often aluminum, stainless steel or specialty like encapsulated PTFE), how is the fitting sealed to the hose (often banded or crimped).
• Fitting Gasket – Many camlocks come with a buna gasket. Frequently a gasket with stronger chemical resistance like a Viton or PTFE gasket is required. One of the most common and frustrating issues buyers of chemical hose encounter is choosing a fully compatible hose tube, cover, and fittings, but the wrong fitting gasket. This can cause a perfectly good hose assembly to leak because the incompatibility of the gasket material compromises the seal of the chemical transfer hose. 
• I.D. Size – Inner diameter of the hose tube. Allows the hose to be connected to similar sized components. Can be a factor in flow of media volume and pressures.
• Length – Length needs are usually based on application and facility layout. 

Spending extra time on the front end to make sure each part of your chemical transfer hose is compatible with your application can dramatically increase the life and value of your hose assembly. There are thousands of different chemical transfer hose assembly options between these different variables. Don’t hesitate to talk to an experienced specialist before making a purchase.