Rigid plastic tubing products are commonplace throughout multiple industries by OEMs, supplier programs, and other businesses. It stems from the material versatility that’s presentable with these tubes along with how that material versatility allows for varied applications.
Understanding why specific materials are chosen and how it impacts the types of applications the tubes can be used is critical when viewing rigid plastic tubing. Petro Packaging Co. Inc. highlights the importance of material selection and common applications of rigid tubing while showcasing key benefits as well.
Common Materials for Rigid Plastic Tubing
There are numerous materials readily available for plastic manufacturing companies to create the rigid plastic tube products OEMs need. Many thermoplastics naturally provide the rigidity necessary for harsh elements but also strength for everyday applications.
One of the most commonly used materials is cellulose acetate butyrate. CAB makes for a strong selection because of its high impact strength and consistent dimensional stability across a wide variety of temperature ranges. It creates tubes that are resistant to scuffs, impacts, and daily wear and tear, while allowing for easy fabrication after the extrusion process. Another material within the same family is cellulose acetate propionate. Much like CAB, CAP also provides high impact strength, but where it differs is in its ability to withstand weatherability, UV resistance, and high levels of moisture. PETG is also a viable material selection for rigid plastic tubing applications because of its durability and manufacturing ease. These three materials are often chosen because of the transparency levels they provide and in applications where visibility matters, CAB, CAP, and PETG are strong options.
Other common material choices can include PVC as a cost-effective solution where chemical resistance is important, ABS for protective applications, polycarbonate for high-pressure applications, and HDPE for stiffness-to-weight ratio concerns.
Best Applications
There aren’t many scenarios where tubes aren’t considered rigid since they provide safety and enclosure for whatever is moving through them. But it’s critical to mention specific examples of where rigid plastic tubing shines the most.
Many pneumatic systems such as at a drive-through bank are equipped with rigid tubes as they can endure the pressure that’s used to send canisters to and from the teller stations, and they can withstand the fluctuations in weather since they are exposed to not only outdoor environments, but likely HVAC and electrical systems inside.
Another everyday example of rigid plastic tubes at work appears in packaging applications and structural or display applications. Packaging can including mailing considerations while structural or display refers to the tubes in specific aisles at a grocery store such as candy displays, point of purchase items, and more.
Benefits
When the right materials are matched to product application, the benefits of rigid plastic tubing extend into multiple categories that impact contract manufacturers, OEMs, and the target audience. With rigidness as the end goal, tubes offer high strength and structural integrity while maintaining shape over long periods of time without defects such as sagging. Depending on the material selection, tubes can feature numerous resistant qualities including chemical, UV, moisture, and other harmful agents.
Tubes are created through extrusion which offers cost-effectiveness, especially for high-volume programs. This is because the costs associated with tooling are offset when volume increases and the price-per-part ratio drops considerably.
Partner with Petro Packaging Co. Inc. for Rigid Plastic Tubing Manufacturing Services
Petro Packaging Co. Inc. has served OEMs and other companies with stock and custom plastic extrusion services. Material selection is one of the most important aspects of the manufacturing process and Petro Packaging Co. Inc. has championed that as part of our process. We pioneered the usage of CAB, CAP, and PETG materials in extrusion, and have since become a renowned name in the plastics industry.
We offer the most comprehensive selection of plastic extrusions for many unique applications, and our sixty-plus years of experience coupled with the dedication to processing a variety of thermoplastic materials has made us your premier extrusion house for plastic tubes and profile extrusions.
With robust engineering services including design, development, and in-housing tooling operations, we have the capabilities and experience to truly offer an elevated extrusion program for your team’s needs.
Plastic rigid tubing is one of the many products we manufacture in our Cranford, New Jersey, facility. This style of tube serves in a number of industries including pneumatic applications, the medical field, and POS systems.
Contact Petro Packaging Co. Inc. today for more information on our process for rigid plastic tube manufacturing and how we can start your program today.
