High Pressure Hose VS Low Pressure Hose

What is a high-pressure hose?

A high-pressure hose is a flexible tubing with extremely high pressure resistance, structurally constructed from reinforcing materials such as steel wire and rubber. Taking a representative high-pressure hydraulic hose as an example:

Material: Made of oil-resistant synthetic materials combined with high-strength steel wire braiding/winding.

Pressure rating: Initial pressure is typically higher than 2000 PSI, with normal operating pressure reaching 3000 PSI or higher.

Core purpose: Specifically responsible for the transmission of high-pressure hydraulic oil.

Application industries: Widely used in industrial scenarios with stringent pressure requirements, such as mining, oil exploration, heavy lifting, and aerospace.

What is a low-pressure hose?

A low-pressure hose is a fluid transfer component that emphasizes flexibility and adaptability. Structurally, it consists of a high-strength fiber braided layer and a rubber layer. Taking a representative low-pressure hydraulic hose as an example:

Material: Uses oil-resistant or weather-resistant synthetic rubber as the base material, with an inner high-strength fiber braided layer as the core reinforcement structure.

Pressure rating: Pressure capacity is typically below 2000 PSI.

Core application: Flexible and efficient transportation of liquids, gases, or particles.

Application industries: Widely used in agricultural equipment, various fluid transfer systems, and some industrial machinery.

How to distinguish between high-pressure hoses and low-pressure hoses based on pressure?

Low pressure hose: Below 1.6 MPa and most commonly with textile/fabric braid reinforcement

Medium pressure hose: Up to 10 MPa and most commonly with wire braid reinforcement

High pressure hose: 10 MPa–100 MPa with a mix of wire braid and spiral braid reinforcement

Ultra-high pressure hose is a hose with a pressure exceeding 100 MPa.

Key Differences Between High-Pressure and Low-Pressure Hose

1. Pressure Rating

High-pressure hoses: Design pressure typically starts at 2000 PSI, with common industrial high-pressure hoses reaching 3000-6000 PSI, and ultra-high-pressure models exceeding 10,000 PSI.

Low-Pressure hoses: Generally refers to hoses with operating pressures below 2000 PSI (approximately 138 bar). In certain industries (such as automotive steering return lines), low pressure may even refer to below 300 PSI.

2. Reinforcement Material and Structure

High-pressure hoses: Must use high-strength steel wire. Structurally, it is divided into "braided" and "spiral."

• Braided Steel Wire: More flexible, suitable for medium to high pressure.

• Spiral Steel Wire: Winded like a spring, capable of withstanding extremely high impact pressure (pulse pressure), but the hose body is more rigid.

Low-Pressure hoses: Primarily woven from synthetic fibers (such as textiles, nylon, and polyester). Its purpose is to provide basic shape support while maintaining lightweight construction.

3. Flexibility and Bending Radius

High-pressure hoses: Relatively stiff. Due to its internal layer of rigid steel wire, it has a larger bending radius (it cannot be bent too sharply), otherwise, fatigue breakage of the steel wires is likely.

Low-Pressure hoses: Very flexible with a small bending radius, allowing for flexible cabling in confined spaces, much like a rope.

4. Manufacturing Process

High-pressure hoses: Extremely complex manufacturing process. Requires precision equipment to weave or wind multiple layers of steel wire at specific angles onto the inner rubber layer, and demands a more stringent vulcanization process for the rubber compound to ensure a strong bond between the steel wire and rubber, resulting in higher costs.

Low-Pressure hoses: Relatively simple manufacturing process, typically using cold-feed extrusion, resulting in high production efficiency and lower costs.

5. Typical Applications

High-pressure hoses: Used in environments with extremely high pressure requirements, such as construction and manufacturing, where high pressure is essential for normal operation.

Low-pressure hoses: Suitable for applications with lower pressure requirements, such as agricultural equipment and fluid transport systems.

Summary

If you need to drive heavy machinery, withstand impacts, and prevent bursting, you must choose high-pressure hoses (steel wire reinforced).

If you need lightweight, easy-to-install, inexpensive hoses with lower pressure requirements, choose low-pressure hoses (fiber reinforced).