What is the difference between a braided and an unbraided flexible hose?
Braided and non-braided hoses play an important role in modern industry, construction, agriculture, and everyday life, and they differ significantly in terms of structure, performance, application scenarios, and advantages and disadvantages. The following is a detailed comparison of these two types of hoses.
Structure
A braided hose is mainly composed of a wire, an inner tube, a steel sleeve, a core, a gasket, and a nut. Its core feature is its braid layer, which is usually made of high-strength synthetic fibers or stainless steel wires, giving the hose excellent compression, tensile, and burst resistance. Stainless steel braided hoses are braided with 304 or 301 stainless steel wires, which further enhances their corrosion and temperature resistance.
Non-braided hose, such as corrugated hose, has a relatively simple structure, mainly composed of a hexagonal cap, body, gasket, and plastic sleeve. A corrugated hose does not have a braided layer, and its body shows an uneven corrugated shape, which is designed to provide it with good flexibility and high-pressure resistance.
Performance Characteristics
The braided hose has excellent flexibility, compression resistance, and sealing because of its unique braided structure. It can withstand large pressure and compression loads while maintaining a high degree of air tightness and sealing and is suitable for applications that require frequent bending or are subjected to higher pressures. Stainless steel braided hose also has good corrosion resistance and high-temperature resistance, suitable for fluid transmission in harsh environments.
Corrugated hose, on the other hand, is known for its resistance to high pressure, corrosion, and high temperature. Its corrugated design not only increases the flexibility of the hose but also enables it to absorb the mutual displacement of piping or equipment connections and play the role of vibration damping and noise reduction. However, corrugated hose is prone to wall fracture or water leakage after frequent bending or multiple bending of the same part, so special attention should be paid to the installation method and the number of bending when used.
Application Scenarios
Braided hose is widely used in many fields because of its high performance and flexibility. In the industrial field, it can be used to transport various chemicals, oil and natural gas, and other important media; in the construction field, it can be used to transport concrete, mortar, and other materials, and as the support of the building skeleton; in the agricultural field, it can be used for farm irrigation, aquaculture, etc.; in addition, the braided hose is also commonly used in the manufacture of aviation and spacecraft.
The corrugated hose is more often used in occasions that need to withstand high temperature, high pressure, or corrosive media. For example, water heater inlet pipe, gas delivery pipe, and faucet inlet pipe. In areas with poor water quality, corrugated hoses are preferred for water heater connection hoses due to their long service life.
Comparison of Advantages and Disadvantages
The advantages of a braided hose are its high strength, high sealing, and good flexibility, which can meet the needs of fluid transmission in a variety of complex environments. However, they are relatively complex and costly to manufacture, and may not be as resistant to high temperatures as some non-braided hoses.
Corrugated hose has the advantage of high pressure, corrosion, and temperature resistance, and is relatively affordable. However, it is necessary to pay special attention to the installation method and the number of bends to avoid the occurrence of wall breakage or water leakage.
Braided hose and non-braided hose have their own unique structure and performance characteristics, suitable for different application scenarios. When choosing, it is necessary to make comprehensive consideration according to the specific use requirements, environmental conditions cost budget, and other factors. Both braided and non-braided hoses are important components in modern industry, construction, and daily life.