Bioflex has been designed to fulfil the most demanding of customer expectations and, as such, has been subjected to a highly complex and rigorous Proof Testing Programme in comparison with competitive hose products.

Test No. 1. The 'Rolling U' Test.

BIOFLEX samples were run side by side with competitors’ products, including smoothbore FEP, PTFE or PFA lined Rubber hose products, and also smooth flex type products, on a "Rolling U" test rig.

The 1" bore samples were "Rolled" at the minimum bend radius and at the maximum working pressure quoted for the competitor’s product.

Results were as follows:

• Rubber Covered Bioflex Hose - 1,500,000 cycles, no failure.
  - No leakage occurred, so test discontinued. No signs of damage, or wear.
• Competitor’s smoothbore FEP lined Rubber Covered Hose - 9,149 cycles to failure.
  - Hose leakage caused by severe failure of the hose liner, breakage of the helix wire, and damaged rubber and braid.
• Competitor’s convoluted smooth flex type hose , SS Braid - 7,151 cycles to failure.
  - Hose leakage caused by very severe failure of the hose liner and braid components.

These remarkable results confirm the claims made by Aflex, that BIOFLEX is the best designed, toughest and most reliable PTFE lined hose product available today.

Test No. 2. The Permeability Test.

Fixed lengths of Bioflex were pressurised to 30 Bar with Helium Gas, and compared with samples of standard convoluted PTFE hose.

Results

Bioflex has more than 2.5 x the permeation resistance of standard convoluted hose. Under identical conditions, the permeation levels were:

1” Bioflex = 138 milliletres of helium per metre per hour
1” Convoluted = 371 millilitres of helium per metre per hour

The permeability, or diffusion of gases and some fluids through PTFE is a problem in certain, very specific applications. Bioflex hose offers significant advantages in such applications.

Test No. 3. The Flow Rate Test.

The test apparatus illustrated below was used to measure the flow rate of Bioflex, both in a straight configuration and coiled to its Minimum Bend Radius. The test medium was water.

Results

Comparisons were made with samples of standard convoluted hose with the same diameter on the inside of the convolutions as the Bioflex inside diameter. These show that Bioflex is capable of delivering 2 - 3 times the flow rate of convoluted hose, in both the hose configurations.

Additional tests have shown that the flow rate through a Bioflex hose is actually greater than that of a convoluted hose, which is one size larger. For example, 1½” Bioflex has a higher flow rate than 2” convoluted hose. It is therefore possible to use a smaller Bioflex hose, fitted with full size end fittings, to replace a convoluted hose more effectively, and more economically!

This remarkable improvement is due to the fact that the turbulent flow created by the convolutions in the standard product is virtually eliminated by the much smoother bore of Bioflex.