Silicone Hose Reinforcements

POLYESTER Reinforcements

• Known for its high tensile strength, durability, and resistance to abrasion and UV radiation, this is the standard reinforcement material at Viper Performance,
  starting with 3 plies of fabric, increasing to 4 or 5 up to 6 or 7 plies depending on the diameter of the hose.
  
  
• Polyester fabric embedded into silicone has very good temperature rating from
  -50°C to +180°c  peak
  
  

Viper performance hoses do carry a large inventory of readymade Blue or Black coloured universal hoses with polyester which are available to order online.

Custom silicone hoses colours such as red, yellow, green, purple etc.. can also be made to order subject to minimum orders.

Glass Fibre reinforcements – Very high temperatures

• Glass fabric reinforcements are possible on our silicones and custom made to order. The hoses will be typically brownish/pinkish in colour, this is due to the High temperature silicone specialist base material that we use that once combined with multiples layers of Glass fibre fabric offers outstanding performance to very high temperatures.
• Glass reinforced silicone hoses offer outstanding temperature ratings from
   -40°c to +330°C
• Glass reinforced hoses cost more than Polyester or Nomex. It is also more difficult to make complex shapes and bends due to the glass material stiffness.

NOMEX / Meta Aramid – High Temperatures

• A commonly used reinforcement for high heat-resistance, Nomex fabric costs a little more than its Polyester counterpart and performs in a comparable way. Hoses in nomex may feel a little softer and pressure rating will be a little lower too.
  The main benefit of Nomex / Meta- Aramid is providing exceptional strength-to-weight ratio and a higher temperature rating.
  
  
• Nomex fabric embedded into silicone has an excellent temperature rating from
  -40°c to +220°C 

At Viper Performance our Nomex reinforced silicone hoses are custom made to order and will start at 3 to 5 plies of reinforcement according to the diameter and desired application.
Hoses will be finished in Black typically and feature an Iron Oxide inner liner for better heat stability.

Nomex hoses are ideal for High temperature Turbo applications.
Viper performances does also stock a number of  Nomex reinforced bellows with stainless steel rings for immediate use.

Wire Reinforcements

Spiral Steel Wire: Used in very high-pressure hoses, offering robust reinforcement in addition the multiple layers of reinforced fabric.
Viper performance does have the ability to make and supply multi-bend shaped silicone hoses of small to large diameter with a wire reinforcement .  This is made to order and adds typically around 40% extra cost to the finished hose due to the build process.
The wire is often applied by hand between plies and is a labour  intensive process.

Nylon Wire: Offers excellent flexibility, high tensile strength, and resistance to abrasion and chemicals.
Nylon is used where electrical conductivity is important.
Nylon reinforcement can be specified in lieu of steel in our SuperFlex straight hoses.

In summary, the choice of reinforcement fabric or material in a hose depends on the specific requirements of the application, including pressure, flexibility, temperature resistance, and environmental factors.

Optional Anti Abrasion sleeve

We can also at point of manufacturing your bespoke silicone hoses apply an external anti-abrasion sleeve on most shape and diameter hoses. This is a protective cover designed to shield the hose from wear and tear caused by friction and abrasion. The sleeves we use are made from nylon, which is a though ward wearing material.
Our sleeves are heat shrunk onto the exterior of the hose where needed.

The additional sleeve will withstand harsh conditions and prevent the hose from being damaged when it comes into contact with rough surfaces, sharp edges, gravel, sand, stone chips, or other abrasive elements.

Here are some key points about anti-abrasion sleeves:

1. Protection: The primary purpose of the sleeve is to protect the hose from external damage, extending its lifespan and maintaining its integrity.
2. Application: These sleeves are used in various industries, including construction, manufacturing, agriculture, and automotive, where hoses are exposed to harsh environments.
3. Installation: They can be installed over the hose, either as a pre-assembled feature or as an add-on that can be retrofitted.
4. Safety: By preventing damage to the hose, anti-abrasion sleeves also help to prevent leaks, bursts, and other failures that could lead to safety hazards.
5. Appearance: Some sleeves may also have additional features like colour coding for easy identification or reflective strips for visibility in low-light conditions.

Overall, anti-abrasion sleeves are a crucial component for maintaining the durability and safety of hoses used in demanding applications.