Thermoplastic Polyurethane Flat Hose

Mammoth TPU Lay Flat Hose - "Investing In The Future With Piece of Mind"

At Mammoth, we believe that customers are always right - unless they buy the wrong hose. Users that have made the decision to use thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) lay flat hose are on the right track. The longer life of TPU compared to the life of nitrile rubber/PVC hose for water transfer in the oil patch has already demonstrated justification for the higher price of TPU. However, what users may have yet to discover is the fact that there are two distinctly different ways to manufacture TPU lay flat hose. Hose produced by the older, more common method is usually referred to as 3-ply PU, or laminated PU. Hose produced by a manufacturing technique referred to as "extruded-through-the-weave" is state of the art.

Laminated, or 3-Ply hose is actually comprised of five layers; an inner PU tube, an adhesive tube, a reinforcement jacket, an adhesive tube, and an outer PU tube. Since the adhesive tubes melt during the manufacturing process, only three layers can be seen in the finished product; hence, the name "3-Ply." The manufacturing process of 3-Ply starts by pulling a polyurethane (PU) tube though the inside an adhesive tube; then, pulling these two tubes through the inside a woven reinforcement jacket. Steam is blown through the PU tube to melt the adhesive and bond the PU tube to the reinforcement jacket. The tube inside the jacket is then turned inside-out ("turning the inside tube out") and the process is repeated with a second PU tube and a second adhesive tube. During this procedure, moisture builds up on the reinforcement jacket and numerous pin holes are made in the outer PU tube to permit this moisture to escape.

The manufacturing process for extruded-through-the-weave (TTW) hose uses two polyurethane tubes separated by a reinforcement jacket. The PU tubes are extruded through the weave of the reinforcement jacket, melding all components into a single piece of reinforced TPU lay flat hose.

Users can buy 3-Ply hose for less than TTW hose, for the simple reason that it costs less to manufacture 3-Ply PU covered hose than TTW PU hose. Also less TPU may be used in the manufacture of 3-Ply hose because of an incentive inherent in the manufacturing process to keep the hose tubes as thin as possible. This results from the necessary procedure of turning the inside tube out, which becomes very difficult if the tubes are too thick. While a salesman for 3-Ply will no doubt attribute a thinner wall to a manufacturing process finely tuned to using only the amount of material necessary to provide the desired outcome, the truth is that a thinner tube has been used to accommodate the manufacturer.

Some advantages of through-the-weave TPU lay flat hose are:

1. No adhesive is used; hence, there is no potential for the hose to delaminate.
2. At working pressure, through-the-weave TPU hose has an elongation rate of 1%, as compared to up to 10% for 3-Ply. An elongation rate of this magnitude results in "snaking" which causes the hose to move in an - unpredictable manner and may lead to damage to the hose and the environment, as well as a reduced flow rate.
3. The pin holes made in the outer layer of 3-Ply hose during the manufacturing process could allow moisture to come back through the pin holes while the hose is in use in the field, compromising the integrity of the adhesive. The slightest loss in adhesion could cause the hose to delaminate and, in the worst case, result in a major spill.
4. Peel tests of lay flat hose (a procedure that pulls the TPU old the ranNrcernent rack.) have quantified that the strength required to separate TPU from the reinforcement tacket is twice as great for extruded through-the-weave as that required for 3-Ply.
5. The interior of through-the-weave hose is much smoother than 3-Ply hose, thus a/MA.9 a higher flow rate for through-the-weave hose than for 3-Ply.
6. In the process of 'turning the mm de tube out" manufacturers have to use a sorter polyurethane material than hat used TTW hose As a consequence. VW hose IS more resisMnt to abrasion and lesS Pre. tz Puncture than 3-Ply hose
7. Fabricators and field people probably preNr 3-Ply TTW because it isn't as stiff and is eamer to cut (the later of whmh verifies that it is also more easily punctured).

Mammoth, mission is to market the very best lay flat hose product for oilfield water transNr available anywhere in the world. We bMieve that extruded-through-the-weave TPU hose is that product Some water transfer oornpames believe our hose is priced above Me current market. A few months ago, our price was being compared to the price of nitrite rubber/PVC. Since then. the market has recognized that TPU hose is a superior product worth the higheMnitial cost. Now our price is being compared to the price of 3-Ply. We expect that to also change after experience in the field magnifies the advantages of Mammoth's Mneugh-the-weave TPU lay flay hose, a. exposes the weaknesses of 3-Ply TPU.

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Mammoth TPU High Pressure Lay Flat Hoses

Mammoth’s TPU high pressure through-the-weave-extrusion lay flat hoses are constructed with high tenacity fibers and an extremely abrasion resistant thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU).  Our Mammoth TPU lay flat hoses are quickly becoming one of the most cost effective investments for water transfer in the oil and gas industry. 

Technical Data 

Due to research and product development technical data is subject to change

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