Stainless steel is a versatile material that is used in many different applications. The two most common types of stainless steel are austenitic which is highly corrosion resistant and ferritic which is magnetic.

In this blog we are going to break down the basics of what austenitic stainless steel is, the key benefits it provides and where the uses of stainless steel fittings can be most beneficial.

Stainless Steel

All steels have the same basic iron and carbon composition along with nickel, but stainless steel also contains chromium - the alloy that gives stainless steel its well-known corrosion resistance.

Austenitic stainless steel contains high levels of chromium and nickel and low levels of carbon providing a balance of strength, workability and corrosion resistance. The standard stainless steel alloys used in plumbing applications contains between 18-20% chromium and 8-12% nickel, as well as small amounts of carbon 0.08% and manganese 2%. Austenitic stainless steel has the highest corrosion resistance and are the most commonly used type of stainless steel around the world.

Benefits of Stainless Steel Fittings

Stainless steel offers a wide range of benefits to the architect and designer of plumbing systems:

Material Benefits

The combining of corrosion resistance with high strength allows the reduction in wall thickness and weight. Stainless steel is resistant to heat and chemical damage. It can withstand very high flow rates - in excess of 40m/s, making it capable to withstand long-term exposure to the elements in almost any environment.

Environmental Benefits

Stainless steel can be used in all types of water, including drinking water in public supply. It has an excellent resistance to the full range of potable waters, including various chloride levels. At the end of its useful life, stainless steel is fully recyclable and retains a higher residual scrap value than ordinary steel.

Economic Benefits

Stainless steel is low maintenance and requires no additional coating, in both indoor and outdoor applications. The expected lifetime of a stainless steel system is more than 50 years, reducing system down time, replacement and maintenance costs over the life of the installation.

Stainless Steel Fitting Applications

With all the benefits that come with stainless steel there are equally just as many applications where these fittings can be utilized. Here are some key beneficial areas:

Residential & Commercial water systems that are subject to various stresses.

Commercial & Industrial piping systems that are needing to perform well under the toughest and harshest conditions.

Industrial Projects for sanitary or highly corrosive applications.

There are three kinds of marine hydraulic flange standards: asian system represented by Japanese standard, European system represented by German standard and North American system represented by the United States. German standard and American standard varieties are more complete, but in the shipbuilding industry is far less than the use of Japanese standard. The conventional flange of JIS is more popular, while the hydraulic flange is not separate into a system, commonly used only 210 Kgf /cm2, 280 Kgf /cm2 and 350 Kgf /cm2 three specifications.

For a long time, high pressure marine hydraulic flange has few specifications, high price, long delivery time and other problems in the market. Considering that the number of hydraulic flanges required throughout the ship is not much. Some shipyards with machining ability often manufacture high-pressure hydraulic flanges by themselves. This paper mainly discusses the basic points of marine hydraulic flange design and gives a design example.

Marine flange design

There are many methods for marine flange design, such as bach method based on material mechanics, waters method based on elastic analysis by TY8100 method, and analysis method based on plastic limit load, etc. These methods are too cumbersome and complicated for engineering applications. Based on the JIS hydraulic flange standard, this paper explores a design method suitable for shipyards.

What components make up a full hose assembly?

When looking at a full hose assembly, it is basically a length of hose with a properly attached fitting on each end. Robert J. Koehler, Sr. Training Specialist at Eaton Corporation, explained that a hose assembly is composed of the hose and the end fittings, which are determined by the application in which the hose assembly is going to be placed.

Hydraulic hoses have three major components, he said, which include the following:

Tube: The tube is the inner-most portion of the hose. Its role is to convey the media from one end of the hose to the other and protect the outside from the media or fluid being conveyed.

Reinforcement: The reinforcement is the strength of the hose and comes in a variety of types, including braided, spiral and helical.

Cover: The cover is designed to protect the reinforcement and tube from the outside environment.

“Each of these three components plays an important role to allow the hose to work in a variety of environments,” Koehler added. “These hoses are designed to meet different specifications and requirements that arise with the different environments where hoses will be installed.”

“Fittings are usually made of metal, such as carbon steel, stainless steel, brass and so on. Within these fittings there are two major components,” he continued.

Fitting components are comprised of the following:

Socket: The socket is the portion of the fitting that goes over the outer cover.

Stem: The stem is the portion of the fitting that goes directly into the I.D. of the inner tube of the hose. It extends out of the hose and into the connecting end. The connecting end of the fitting is the portion of the fitting that allows the hose to connect to other components.

Hydraulic Hose Definition

A hydraulic hose conveys hydraulic fluid to or between hydraulic components. Components include valves, tools, and actuators. Hydraulic hose is usually flexible and reinforced.

Hose is often made up of several layers of reinforcement. This is necessary because hydraulic systems operate at high pressures.

Needless to say, hydraulic hoses are essential parts of any hydraulic system. The hoses are flexible enough to bend around corners and fit in tight spaces. They can also stretch over long distances.

What is Hydraulic Hose Made Of?

Hydraulic hoses are often constructed of multiple materials. The most common materials are fluoropolymers and silicone, elastomers, metal, and thermoplastics. Composite or laminated materials are also common.

Rubber and elastomeric hydraulic hose is a strong choice when you need flexibility. Fluoropolymer hose has a durable flex life as well. It also has excellent corrosion and chemical resistance, and it can handle high temperatures.

Thermoplastic hydraulic hose has a tight minimum bend radius. It also features superior resistance to kinks. Metal hoses handle high temperatures and high flow materials well.

They can also handle high pressures. Finally, they can be flexible or stiff.

Flexible hoses are easy to install and route compared to rigid tubing. The flexibility reduces noise and vibrations. It also dampens pressure surges and allows for movement between the parts.

Hydraulic Hose Construction

Most hydraulic hose consists of three main parts. They have an inner tube to carry the fluid. Next is a reinforcement layer, followed by a protective outer layer.

The inner tube is flexible and compatible with the fluid it will carry. A common compound is a combination of synthetic rubber, thermoplastics, and PTFE (Teflon).

The reinforcement layer has multiple sheaths. The sheaths include spiral-wound wire, braided wire, or textile yarn. The outer layer is often resistant to abrasion, oil, or weather, depending on its intended use.

What are the components of a hydraulic hose assembly?

The hydraulic system definition is that which transmits pressurised hydraulic fluid within a mechanical system. Hydraulic hose assembly includes the hose and its fittings. There are different types of hydraulic hoses, but they all have the same components:

What are hydraulic hoses made of?

Hydraulic tube material typically includes a thermoplastic, synthetic rubber and Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) to resist corrosion and chemical impact. The thermoplastics used are often polyamide, polyester and even fluoropolymers, which has a high resistance to solvents, acids, and bases.

Hydraulic hose fittings

There are different types of hose fittings. Their purpose is to connect hoses securely to your hydraulic system’s components, such as valves, cylinders and pumps. It’s the fittings that help hold and direct the flow of fluid, maintaining the pressure while preventing leaks.

Fittings consist of the same two components. The hydraulic hose socket, along with the stem, mate the hoses. The socket goes over the hose cove while the stem fits into the tube’s inner tube. The stem extends out from the hose and acts as a connector for equipment to attach to.