UV-protected polyurethane tubing with lasting colour brilliance

Tubing of this kind loses colour over a period of time. The mechanical properties are largely retained for brief periods – or even over the medium-term. However, the tubing becomes yellowish and pale quickly. Tubing without pigmentation or with light colouration can develop a net-like effect on the surface as a result of oxidation. This results in the tube turning brittle with countless micro cracks.

Thus, the Osnabrück-based German company Polyvanced GmbH has developed and launched new UV protected polyurethane tubing. Sales Director Matthias Strehl summarises the customer benefits: "UV protection increases product security and assures colour stability. Both of these advantages are of the greatest importance for all outdoor applications."

"We have been researching this problem for quite some time. As an innovative and solution-oriented company we were determined not to stop working on this problem until we had come up with a PU tubing solution that was protected against UV radiation and damage. And we can now offer our customers the best product anywhere for doing just this. Polyvanced produces on request tubing that keeps its brilliant colouring for a very long time and we have cut oxidation attrition to a minimum at the same time", says Strehl.

UV protected tubing is primarily used for outdoor applications that must withstand high UV radiation levels. Typical fields of application include many marine and boat building uses as well as a range of medical applications. For all long-term UV protection requirements Polyvanced recommends using the colour black for all tubing material as a matter of principle. This has proved to be valuable advice, especially in the automotive industry, says the company.

Polyvanced turns out some 50 million m of special tubing every year. The key industrial sectors served by the company are automation, automotive, drinking water, robotics and drive engineering. Polyvanced currently employs over 130 people in Europe.