loading

A silicone tube manufacturer & factory dedicated to producing precision custom silicone products for 12 years.

Selection of Medical Tubing Materials: Silicone vs. PVC, PU, PE, Rubber

Choosing the Best Material for Medical Tubing: Silicone VS PVC, PU, PE, Rubber or TPE...

In the medical device industry, the choice of medical tubing materials is crucial as it directly impacts the safety, durability, and patient comfort of the equipment. Common medical tubing materials include Silicone (Silicone), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Polyurethane (PU), Polyethylene (PE), Rubber, and Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPE), each with its unique advantages and disadvantages. 

This article analyzes these materials and delves into why silicone is the optimal solution for medical tubing, particularly regarding material properties and certification requirements. We will also highlight Ruixiang’s strength in custom medical-grade silicone tubing, assisting you in making the best decision.

First, Advantages and Disadvantages of Common Medical Tubing Materials

Material Advantages Disadvantages Applicability (Medical Tubing)
Silicone - Excellent biocompatibility, very low allergic reaction rates - Relatively expensive - Ideal for long-term internal use, such as breathing tubes, catheters, etc.
  - High temperature resistance (up to 200°C), low temperature resistance (suitable for freezing environments) - Relatively soft, may not be suitable for applications requiring high mechanical strength - Suitable for long-term indwelling medical tubing, such as IV catheters, gastric tubes
  - Excellent flexibility and elasticity, comfortable to bend - High manufacturing cost - Ideal for flexible tubing requirements, such as intubation tubes
  - Good chemical resistance and anti-aging properties - Difficult to bond with other materials, processing is complex - Suitable for medical tubing requiring elasticity, such as catheter tubes
PVC - Low cost, easy to process, widely used for single-use products - Relatively low biocompatibility, may cause allergic reactions or irritation - Suitable for disposable medical tubing, such as infusion tubes, blood pressure cuffs
  - Good chemical resistance, resists most chemicals - Sensitive to UV light, may degrade with time and usage - Suitable for short-term use, such as tracheal intubation, gastric tubes
  - Good transparency for observing fluid flow - Relatively rigid, not as flexible - Not heat-resistant, may deform or degrade with long-term use
PU - High strength, good wear resistance, excellent oil and chemical resistance - Sensitive to UV light and high temperatures, prone to aging - Suitable for high-strength medical tubing, such as urinary catheters, vascular catheters
  - Good elasticity and tensile strength, wear-resistant, comfortable - High cost, complex manufacturing processes - Suitable for applications requiring high flexibility and mechanical strength
  - Better for long-term and high-pressure environments, reducing damage and wear - Some PU materials may be susceptible to certain chemicals (e.g., alcohols, oils) - Ideal for high-stress applications in medical tubing
PE - Low cost, good electrical insulation, and chemical resistance - Low strength, poor high-temperature resistance, prone to brittleness - Suitable for disposable short-term medical tubing, such as infusion tubes
  - Low friction coefficient, good wear resistance, relatively resistant to acids and bases - Susceptible to UV light and environmental factors, performance may decrease over time - Suitable for simpler applications, typically not for long-term or internal use
  - Can be recycled, making it environmentally friendly - Becomes brittle in low temperatures, difficult to bond or weld with other materials - Ideal for low-cost and short-term medical tubing
Rubber - Good elasticity, shock absorption, sealing properties, suitable for shock absorption and sealing tubes - Prone to aging, especially when exposed to air or sunlight - Suitable for sealing and short-term use tubing, such as pressure tubes, catheters
  - High flexibility, adapts well to various pressure changes - Poor high-temperature resistance, vulnerable to oils and solvents - Not suitable for long-term exposure inside the body or high-temperature environments, usually for short-term treatment
  - Excellent one-time use properties (low cost) - Poor UV resistance and some chemical resistance - Ideal for short-term, disposable medical tubing
TPE - Combines the elasticity of rubber with the processability of thermoplastic materials, offering good flexibility and comfort - Poor high-temperature resistance, not as good as silicone or PU - Suitable for various short-term or disposable medical tubing, such as oxygen tubes, catheters
  - No vulcanization process required, easy to produce and suitable for mass production - High temperatures and UV light may affect performance, chemical resistance is not as good as silicone and PU - Suitable for low-cost and short-term applications in medical tubing
  - Adjustable hardness, adaptable to various uses - Certain types may not be suitable for long-term internal use - Ideal for low-cost, short-term medical tubing solutions

Second, Why Silicone Tubing is the Best Medical Tubing Solution

As shown from the analysis above, while each material has its applications, silicone tubing stands out as the optimal choice in the medical industry due to its unique advantages. The main reasons for choosing silicone tubing as the best medical tubing solution are:

1. Material Advantages:

  • Biocompatibility: Silicone tubing has the strongest biocompatibility among all materials, making it especially suitable for long-term contact with the human body. It is unlikely to cause allergic reactions and is ideal for devices that need to stay inside the body, such as urinary catheters, endotracheal tubes, and vascular catheters.
  • High Temperature Resistance: Silicone has excellent heat resistance and can withstand high-temperature sterilization processes, ensuring that the tubing maintains its form and function even under high heat.
  • Flexibility and Durability: Silicone tubing is soft and highly elastic, adapting well to complex operational environments, especially in medical devices that require significant bending or stretching.
  • Non-toxic and Safe: Silicone tubing is free from plasticizers and harmful substances, making it a safe choice for medical applications.

 

2. Certification Requirements:

Medical devices have stringent certification requirements for materials, and silicone tubing excels in this regard. Silicone tubing that meets the following certifications can be widely applied in various medical settings:

  • ISO 13485 Certification: Indicates that the manufacturer has a quality management system for medical device production.
  • FDA Certification: Ensures that the product meets the standards set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is suitable for medical use.
  • USP Class VI Certification: Meets the biological compatibility standards set by the United States Pharmacopeia, making it suitable for long-term contact with the human body.

 

These certifications ensure that silicone tubing can be safely used in stringent medical environments, ensuring patient safety and effective treatment.

 

Third, Ruixiang Silicone's Strength in Customizing Medical-Grade Silicone Tubing

As a professional manufacturer of custom medical-grade silicone tubing, Ruixiang has more than 12 years of experience in the industry, accumulating extensive technical and production expertise in the medical device field. Ruixiang's advantages include:

 

Advanced Technology: We have a professional technical team capable of customizing silicone tubing to various specifications, meeting the requirements of different medical devices.

  • Comprehensive Certifications: We have obtained ISO 13485, FDA, and USP Class VI certifications, among others, ensuring our products meet global market standards.
  • Cleanroom Manufacturing: Our medical-grade silicone tubing is produced in GMP-compliant Class 100,000 cleanrooms, ensuring that the production environment is free from contaminants and bacteria, thereby maintaining the quality and safety of each piece of tubing.
  • Quality Assurance: Our production follows strict international quality management systems, ensuring stable quality and durability of our silicone tubing, meeting the high demands of the medical industry.
  • Customization Services: We offer personalized solutions based on customer requirements, including customized dimensions, hardness, colors, and special functions (e.g., antimicrobial, antistatic, etc.).
  • Customer Trust: We provide custom services for numerous well-known medical device companies globally, with products sold internationally and widely recognized and praised.

 

Fourth, Conclusion

Among the many medical tubing materials, silicone stands out as the best choice due to its excellent biocompatibility, high-temperature resistance, flexibility, and non-toxic properties, making it especially ideal for long-term contact with the human body. With over 12 years of production experience and a comprehensive certification system, Ruixiang can offer high-quality custom medical-grade silicone tubing to ensure the safety and reliability of your medical products.

If you are looking for medical tubing materials that meet strict certification requirements, we welcome you to contact Ruixiang. We will provide you with professional solutions tailored to your needs.

prev
What are the key requirements for the production environment, certification standards and application of medical-grade silicone tubes?
Why are silicone tubes so expensive? Its advantages and unique advantages compared to other materials
next
recommended for you
no data
Get in touch with us
Copyright © 2025 Dongguan Ruixiang Precision Silicone Products Co.,Ltd. - medicalsiliconetube.com | Sitemap Privacy Policy
Customer service
detect