Rubber hoses are everywhere! Have you ever stopped to consider how many everyday items have hoses? Cars, trucks, buses, planes, boats, motorcycles, construction equipment, appliances, pumps, and medical equipment all contain hoses.

So, what exactly is a hose? 

Hoses are flexible hollow tubes that transport fluids, or gases, from one location to another. It’s easy to see how hoses are an integral part of all of the items mentioned above. Hoses allow gas to travel from the fuel tank of your car to the engine, water to move from the water line in your home to the dispenser on your refrigerator, and medicine to flow through an IV unit.
Most hoses are attached to other parts of an assembly by some type of connector, usually referred to as a coupling or a fitting. Hose fittings are typically made of metal or plastic. Anyone who has ever worked with rubber parts knows they can be difficult to assemble. Trying to install, remove or manipulate tight fitting rubber components can be a real challenge.
Since hoses are so vital, it’s important to make sure they are assembled properly to avoid problems later on. Parts that are improperly aligned or installed may result in performance or safety issues. Hoses and couplings are designed with a tight fit so they stay together after assembly to function properly and avoid leakage. The insertion force needed to complete the assembly can be extreme, sometimes causing worker injury.

So, how do you make hose assembly easier? 

P-80® temporary assembly lubricants can help! P-80 temporary rubber assembly lubricants significantly reduce friction to help rubber parts slide easily into place. P-80 lubricants are water-based, and do not contain alcohol or petroleum distillates so they will not cause rubber to dry out, swell or harden. P-80 does not contain silicon or other persistent ingredients, so once dry you have a tight fitting part.

What are the advantages of using P-80 lubricants?

• Reduce the force required for installation
• Increase production rates
• Reduce part breakage, leaks and rejects
• Allow for closer fitting part design
• Reduce risk of musculoskeletal and slippage related injuries

What if my hoses undergo pressure testing immediately after assembly? P-80 lubricants provide temporary lubrication, once dry the lubrication ceases and parts stay in place. International Products Corporation (IPC) recommends using P-80® Grip-It for hose assemblies that are pressure tested or drop tested immediately after assembly. P-80 Grip-It provides the lubricity needed to complete your assembly and then dries quickly to allow the natural tight fit of rubber to return. When dry, P-80 Grip-it leaves a tacky finish to help parts stay in place, making it an excellent choice for use on pressure-tested hoses. Download our case study detailing how one major appliance manufacturer benefited from using P-80® Grip-It for dishwasher hose assembly to reduce drop test failures.

In addition to Grip-It, P-80 is available in five additional water-based formulas, including two that are approved for use in incidental food contact applications. P-80 lubricants offer superior lubrication and are compatible with a variety of surfaces. They are environmentally friendly, most are biodegradable.

Make hose assembly easier with P-80! 

Contact IPC’s technical team to help you find the best solution for your assembly needs.