How EPU Tubing Improves Abrasion Resistance

Jan 09, 2026

Compared with ester-based PU tubing, EPU tubing uses a polyether-based molecular structure, which provides better resistance to mechanical wear while maintaining flexibility.

From a material standpoint, EPU tubing exhibits:

1.Higher surface toughness, reducing material loss under friction

2.Stable elasticity, allowing the tube to recover shape after repeated bending

3.Reduced micro-cracking on the outer surface

These characteristics are especially important in dynamic applications where tubing movement is continuous rather than occasional.

How EPU Tubing Improves Abrasion Resistance

Abrasion Performance Comparison of Common Pneumatic Tubing

Property	EPU Tubing (Ether-Based PU)	PU Tubing (Ester-Based)	PA Nylon Tubing
Abrasion resistance	High	Medium	Medium
Flexibility under motion	High	High	Low
Surface wear rate	Low	Medium	Medium
Suitability for drag chains	Well suited	Limited	Poor
Service life in dynamic use	Long	Moderate	Short

This balance of abrasion resistance and flexibility makes EPU tubing particularly effective in high-cycle motion environments.

High-Frequency Applications Where EPU Tubing Excels

Ether-Based Polyurethane Tubing is widely used in applications where motion frequency and mechanical contact are unavoidable. In these systems, material durability directly affects uptime and maintenance cost.

Typical high-frequency pneumatic applications include:

◆Robotic arms and end-effectors

◆Pick-and-place automation

◆Linear slides and transfer units

◆Cable carriers and energy chains

◆Compact machines with dense pneumatic routing

In these scenarios, polyurethane ether tubing maintains structural integrity longer than conventional materials, even when routing conditions are less than ideal.

Maintenance, Downtime, and Total Cost Considerations

From a maintenance perspective, abrasion-related failures are among the most disruptive. Tubing wear often occurs gradually and may go unnoticed until leakage affects system performance.

Using abrasion-resistant EPU polymer ether based polyurethane tubing reduces:

1.Unexpected air leaks

2.Emergency downtime

3.Frequent tube replacement

For procurement teams and plant managers, this translates into lower total cost of ownership, even if the initial tubing cost is slightly higher than standard PU alternatives.

Lifecycle Impact of Abrasion-Resistant EPU Tubing

Factor	Standard PU Tubing	EPU Tubing
Replacement frequency	Higher	Lower
Maintenance labor	Repeated interventions	Reduced
Downtime risk	Moderate to high	Low
Long-term operating cost	Higher	More predictable

The economic advantage becomes more evident as machine speed and operating hours increase.

Selecting the Right Tubing for High-Frequency Motion

In high-frequency pneumatic applications, tubing selection should prioritize abrasion resistance and motion durability, not just pressure rating or flexibility.

EPU Ether-Based Polyurethane Tubing offers a proven solution where repeated movement, friction, and vibration are unavoidable. By extending service life and stabilizing maintenance cycles, EPU tubing supports both engineering reliability and long-term cost control.

For systems where motion never stops, tubing material choice makes a measurable difference.

（FK9026）

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