How Do Different Industries Use Silicone Tubing

Silicone tubing turns up in places you might not expect. From food processing and dairy equipment to medical systems, electrical components and industrial machinery, its applications are broader than many engineers realise.

But simply listing the uses of silicone tubing does not tell an engineer very much. What matters is why silicone has been chosen in each application, whether that is flexibility, temperature resistance, hygiene, or resistance to the surrounding environment.

In this article, we’ll break down all the different silicone tubing applications and how you can pick the right silicone tubing yourself. 

Let’s get started.

What Are the Main Silicone Tubing Applications?

Silicone tubing is incredibly versatile because it combines flexibility with the ability to perform in demanding environments. That’s why silicone tubing is used across a wide range of industries.

In our experience at Transam Extrusions, engineers rarely choose silicone tubing for just one reason. The right material often needs to bend around equipment, tolerate changing temperatures, remain stable during repeated use, and suit the substance or component it comes into contact with.

Depending on the specification, silicone tubing can offer:

• Flexibility - Silicone tubing is highly flexible, making it easier to route around machinery, components, and complex installations.
• High & Low Temperature Resistance - Silicone tubing has excellent resistance to high and low temperatures, often ranging from -60°C to +230°C.
• Resistance to UV, Ozone & Weathering - Silicone tubing can withstand exposure to UV, ozone, and weathering, making it suitable for outdoor and exposed applications.
• Smooth Surface - Designed with a smooth surface, silicone tubing can support easier cleaning and is useful in applications where hygiene and cleanliness are important.
• Different Hardnesses, Sizes and Colours - Silicone tubing is available in a range of hardnesses, sizes and colours to suit different equipment requirements and applications.
• Specialist Grades - Specialist silicone grades are available for applications with specific requirements, including food processing, medical and other industry-specific environments.

Food Processing & Dairy

In food processing and dairy environments, tubing needs to transfer liquids reliably while meeting strict hygiene requirements. This makes food-grade silicone dairy tubes a practical choice for many production and processing applications.

A common example is silicone dairy tubing used within milking systems. Its smooth surface helps with cleaning, while its flexibility makes installation around equipment easier. Clear silicone tubes can also allow operators to monitor milk flow and identify potential issues.

The right specification will depend on the application, including factors such as temperature, flexibility, dimensions, and food-contact requirements. 

Medical, Pharmaceutical & Laboratory Applications

In medical, pharmaceutical, and laboratory environments, tubing is essential to providing reliable fluid transfer while meeting strict cleanliness and performance requirements. This makes silicone medical tubing a suitable option for medical applications where flexibility, durability, and material stability are crucial.

Silicone medical tubing can be used within laboratory equipment, fluid handling systems, and specialist medical or pharmaceutical applications. These uses of silicone tubing require careful consideration of factors such as material grade, chemical compatibility, temperature resistance, and application requirements.

Automotive & Rail Applications

In automotive and rail environments, tubing components often need to withstand changing temperatures, vibration, and long-term exposure to demanding conditions. Silicone tubing can be a practical choice where flexibility, durability, and resistance to environmental factors are important.

Its ability to remain flexible across a wide temperature range makes silicone suitable for applications where components may experience heat, cold, or repeated movement. Silicone’s resistance to UV exposure, ozone, and weathering also helps support reliable performance in challenging environments.

Electrical & Cable Protection

In electrical applications, components often need protection from heat, movement, and environmental exposure. Silicone tubing can be used as a flexible insulating and protective layer around cables and electrical components where reliable performance is required.

These silicone tubing applications are particularly useful where electrical components require flexible protection from heat and environmental exposure.

Silicone’s flexibility allows it to fit around components and wiring, while its resistance to high temperatures makes it suitable for environments where standard materials may not perform as well.

Industrial Manufacturing & Machinery

In industrial manufacturing environments, tubing components need to withstand regular use, movement, and exposure to demanding operating conditions. Silicone tubing can be used within machinery and production equipment where flexibility, durability, and reliable fluid transfer are important.

Industrial manufacturing is one of the most common silicone tubing applications, particularly where engineers need reliable fluid transfer and flexible connections within machinery.

Its resistance to temperature changes and environmental factors makes silicone suitable for applications where standard tubing may become brittle, degrade, or lose performance over time. Its flexibility also allows it to be installed around machinery components where space and movement need to be considered.

Sealing, Gaskets & Bespoke Silicone Components

Silicone is not only used for flexible tubing. Its durability, flexibility, and resistance to temperature extremes also make it suitable for seals, gaskets, airtight closures, and bespoke extruded components across a range of industries.

For manufacturers and engineers, silicone components can provide reliable performance where materials need to maintain their shape, create a secure seal, and withstand demanding environments. Silicone profiles and custom extrusions can be produced to suit specific dimensions, hardness requirements, and application needs.

How Do You Choose the Right Silicone Tube for Your Application?

Choosing the right silicone tube involves more than selecting a size that fits. Engineers and procurement teams need to consider how the tubing will be used, the environment it will operate in, and the performance requirements it needs to meet.

Key factors to consider include:

Application Requirements 

Consider what the silicone tubing will be used for, including fluid transfer, protection, insulation, or connection purposes.

Temperature Range 

Check the operating temperatures the tube will be exposed to, ensuring the silicone specification can perform reliably in the required environment.

Internal & External Diameter 

Selecting the correct dimensions ensures the tubing fits the equipment correctly and performs as intended.

Hardness & Flexibility 

Different Shore hardness grades offer different levels of flexibility, rigidity, and resistance depending on the application.

Colour & Clarity 

Clear silicone tubing can help with monitoring flow, while coloured options may be preferred for identification or specific requirements.

Material Requirements 

Applications within food, medical, or pharmaceutical environments may require specific silicone grades suitable for those industries.

Chemical Exposure 

Consider any fluids, cleaning solutions, or surrounding materials the tubing may come into contact with.

Standard or Bespoke Requirements 

While standard silicone tubing may suit many applications, bespoke extrusions can be manufactured where specific sizes, colours, hardnesses or performance characteristics are needed.

By understanding these requirements upfront, you can select silicone tubing that provides reliable performance throughout its intended use. If you are unsure which specification is right for your application, our team can help you identify the best solution.

Standard or Bespoke Silicone Tubing?

The right silicone tubing solution depends on the requirements of your application. For many projects, standard silicone tubes provide a reliable and cost-effective option, with a range of sizes, colours and hardness grades available to suit common requirements.

However, some applications require a more specific solution. Engineers may need bespoke silicone tubing manufactured to a particular diameter, wall thickness, hardness, colour or performance specification to fit unique equipment or operating conditions.

Whether you need a readily available silicone tube or a custom extrusion designed around your requirements, we supply both standard silicone tubing and bespoke extruded silicone at Transam Extrusions. 

Find the Right Silicone Tubing Solution with Transam Extrusions

The right silicone tubing specification can improve reliability, efficiency, and performance across demanding industrial applications.

By choosing tubing that matches your requirements, from temperature resistance and flexibility to size, material grade, and custom specifications,  you can reduce issues and ensure your system performs as expected.

Shop our Transam Extrusions Silicone tubes today →