Rubber Hose Quality Identification Guide: How to Spot High-Quality Products at a Glance

1. Core Structure of High-Pressure vs. Low-Pressure Hoses

High-Pressure Hose (4-Layer Structure)

High-pressure hoses are engineered for heavy-duty hydraulic systems, with their structure directly determining pressure-bearing capacity:

• Inner Rubber Layer: Directly contacts hydraulic oil, made of oil-resistant synthetic rubber to prevent medium leakage and corrosion.
• Middle Rubber Layer: Buffers the inner layer and isolates the reinforcement structure, ensuring overall structural stability.
• Steel Wire Reinforcement Layer (the “skeleton” of the hose): The core load-bearing component that dictates pressure resistance.
  • Medium & high-pressure scenarios: Adopt steel wire braid structure.
  • High & ultra-high-pressure scenarios: Use steel wire winding structure for enhanced durability.
• Outer Rubber Layer: Made of wear-resistant, corrosion-resistant rubber to protect the steel wire layer from mechanical damage, chemical erosion, moisture, and rust.

Low-Pressure Hose

Low-pressure hoses replace steel wire reinforcement with braided cotton or fine wire. They are cost-effective options for low-pressure oil return pipelines, with simpler structural requirements.

2. Typical Defects of Inferior High-Pressure Hoses

Poor-quality high-pressure hoses often have the following flaws, which can lead to premature failure or even bursting:

• Uneven wall thickness: Causes uneven pressure distribution during operation.
• Defective steel wire reinforcement: Excessively tight/loose braiding, or insufficient steel wire layers, directly reducing load-bearing capacity.
• Severe deformation under pressure: Noticeable elongation, shortening, or bending after pressure application, indicating structural instability.
• Poor outer rubber layer airtightness: Allows moisture/chemicals to penetrate and corrode the steel wire layer.
• Leaky inner rubber layer: Lets high-pressure oil seep into the steel wire structure, weakening the hose from the inside.
• Weak adhesion between rubber layers and steel wire: Results in delamination and pressure loss over time.

These defects will gradually degrade the hose’s performance and eventually cause bursting at structural weak points.

3. Hidden Risks of Improper Assembly

Even a high-quality hose can fail prematurely if assembled incorrectly. Key pitfalls to avoid include:

• Insufficient crimping: If the pressure between the joint and hose is too low, the hose may detach from the joint under oil pressure during initial use.
• Over-crimping: Excessive pressure damages the inner rubber layer, creating cracks. High-pressure oil will infiltrate the steel wire layer through these cracks, either spraying out from the hose end or accumulating to bulge and rupture the outer rubber layer.
• Excessively fast crimping speed: Causes damage to the inner rubber and steel wire reinforcement, shortening service life.

4. Best Practices for Hose Replacement & Maintenance

To maximize the service life of rubber hoses, follow these guidelines during replacement and use:

1. Select the right specifications: Match the hose length, steel wire layer count, and joint shape/size to your actual application requirements.
2. Minimize bending and twisting: Avoid excessive bending during installation; never twist the hose when tightening joint nuts—bending and twisting drastically reduce service life.
3. Add wear protection: Install protective sleeves on hose sections prone to friction to prevent wear-induced bursting.

---

Need personalized recommendations for rubber hoses? Contact our technical team for one-on-one guidance!