What Are the Disadvantages of Silicone Tubing? A Balanced Guide to Choosing the Right Material

I. Introduction

Silicone tubing is often praised as the gold standard for flexibility, temperature resistance, and biocompatibility. From medical devices to food processing and laboratory setups, it has become a trusted material across countless industries. But is silicone tubing always the best choice for every application?

When I first started working with silicone products at Kinsoe, I noticed how easily customers assume it’s a universal solution. While silicone offers exceptional properties, it’s not without its drawbacks. Ignoring these can lead to costly mistakes in demanding environments.

In this guide, I’ll take you through the key limitations of silicone tubing, compare it with alternative materials, and share expert tips to help you select the most suitable tubing for your needs.

Remember: There’s no perfect material—only the most suitable one for your application. Here’s how to find it.

II. Quick Recap: Why Is Silicone Tubing So Popular?

Before we dive into the disadvantages, let’s remind ourselves why silicone tubing is so widely used across industries.

At Kinsoe, I’ve seen countless projects succeed thanks to silicone’s unique combination of properties:

• Flexibility and softness across wide temperature ranges – Silicone remains pliable even at extreme cold (-60°C) and high heat (+200°C).
• Excellent thermal stability – Perfect for applications where temperature fluctuations are frequent.
• Biocompatibility – Platinum-cured silicone is safe for medical and food-grade uses, meeting stringent hygiene standards.
• Resistance to UV and ozone degradation – Suitable for outdoor use and harsh environments without cracking or becoming brittle.

Typical applications include:

• Medical devices and pharmaceutical equipment
• Food & beverage transfer systems
• Peristaltic pumps
• Laboratory and analytical setups

These strengths make silicone a first choice for many—but as I’ll explain next, it’s important to know where its weaknesses lie.

III. Disadvantages of Silicone Tubing: What You Need to Know

1. Lower Mechanical Strength and Tear Resistance

While silicone is soft and flexible, it lacks the mechanical strength of materials like polyurethane or reinforced rubber. This means:

• It’s prone to tearing and abrasion when exposed to high-stress or sharp edges.
• Unreinforced silicone tubing is unsuitable for high-pressure systems or environments where significant mechanical force is applied.

Mitigation: At Kinsoe, we often recommend braided or reinforced silicone tubing for applications that require added strength. Alternatively, switching to a more abrasion-resistant material for harsh environments can extend service life.

2. High Gas Permeability

Silicone’s molecular structure allows gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide to permeate through its walls more easily than many other materials. This makes it less ideal for:

• Pharmaceutical processes requiring tight vacuum integrity
• Applications involving volatile or critical gas containment

Mitigation: Consider fluoropolymer-lined silicone tubing or switch to materials like PTFE or FEP, which offer superior gas barrier properties.

3. Limited Chemical Resistance

Silicone performs poorly against certain chemicals, especially:

• Oils and fuels
• Hydrocarbons and strong solvents

Exposure to these can cause swelling, softening, or degradation of the tubing over time.

Mitigation: For chemical-intensive environments, we suggest using Viton® (FKM), EPDM, or fluoropolymer tubing as alternatives.

4. Higher Cost Compared to PVC and Rubber

Silicone tubing’s premium properties come with a higher price tag. Its raw materials and production processes are more expensive, which can add up significantly for large-scale projects.

Mitigation: Analyze your application’s requirements carefully. If silicone’s benefits are not essential, consider PVC or EPDM tubing for cost-sensitive projects without compromising functionality.

IV. Silicone Tubing vs. Other Common Materials: A Comparison Table

To help you see the bigger picture, I’ve created a side-by-side comparison of silicone tubing with three other popular materials—PVC, polyurethane, and EPDM. This will give you a clear sense of where silicone excels and where it falls short.

Key takeaway: Silicone stands out for its extreme temperature range and biocompatibility but falls behind in chemical resistance, mechanical strength, and cost efficiency.

V. How to Decide: Is Silicone Tubing Right for Your Application?

Choosing the right tubing material isn’t about picking the “best” one—it’s about selecting what fits your application’s unique requirements. Here’s how I help customers at Kinsoe make that decision:

When Silicone Is the Best Choice

✅ Medical, food, and pharmaceutical uses where hygiene and biocompatibility are non-negotiable
✅ Applications facing extreme temperature fluctuations (e.g., cryogenics, autoclaves)
✅ Systems requiring flexibility and low extractables for sensitive processes

When to Consider Alternatives

⚠️ High pressure or abrasive environments → Use polyurethane or reinforced rubber tubing for better durability.
⚠️ Chemical or fuel exposure → Opt for Viton® (FKM), PTFE, or EPDM to resist aggressive media.
⚠️ Budget-sensitive projects → For non-critical applications, PVC or EPDM may offer adequate performance at a lower cost.

Tip: Always perform application-specific testing before finalizing your material choice—it can save you from costly replacements later.

VI. Expert Tips: How to Mitigate Silicone’s Limitations

Even if silicone isn’t perfect for every situation, I’ve worked with many customers who successfully used it by applying these strategies:

• Reinforce for Strength: Use braided or fabric-reinforced silicone tubing in high-pressure or mechanical load scenarios.
• Protect Against Abrasion: Add external protective sleeves or position tubing away from abrasive surfaces in your system design.
• Hybrid Solutions: Consider fluoropolymer-lined silicone tubing when chemical resistance or gas impermeability is critical.
• Pre-Testing: Before scaling up, perform rigorous tests under actual operating conditions to uncover potential weaknesses early.

At Kinsoe, we’ve developed custom hybrid tubing solutions for clients facing similar challenges—combining silicone’s flexibility with other materials’ resilience.

VII. Common Misconceptions About Silicone Tubing

Over the years at Kinsoe, I’ve noticed a few recurring myths about silicone tubing that can lead buyers astray:

“It’s universally chemical resistant.”
Not true. While silicone resists water and some mild chemicals, it degrades quickly in contact with oils, fuels, and solvents.

“It’s the best choice for all medical devices.”
Not always. Silicone’s high gas permeability can be problematic in certain pharmaceutical and vacuum applications.

“It’s too soft for industrial use.”
This depends. Standard silicone tubing is soft, but reinforced versions are robust enough for many industrial environments.

By dispelling these misconceptions, you can make a more informed decision about whether silicone tubing is truly the right fit for your needs.

VIII. Conclusion: The Right Material for the Right Job

Every material comes with its own set of strengths and limitations, and silicone tubing is no exception. It shines in applications demanding flexibility, extreme temperature tolerance, and biocompatibility. But for environments involving high pressure, aggressive chemicals, or tight budgets, alternatives like polyurethane, PTFE, or EPDM might serve you better.

At Kinsoe, I’ve helped countless customers weigh these trade-offs and find solutions tailored to their exact requirements.

Ready to choose the right tubing for your application? Contact my team today for application-specific recommendations or to request a sample. Together, we’ll make sure you get the material that fits—not just any material.