What is the main difference?
The main difference is water resistance. A standard Polyester PU Tube degrades when exposed to moisture (hydrolysis), while Polyether tubing is a specialized polyurethane tubing engineered specifically to resist water, humidity, and microbial breakdown.
LCPU vs. LCTU Polyurethane Tubing Comparison
| Feature | LCPU (Polyester PU Tube) | LCTU (Polyether Tubing） |
| Fluid Compatibility | Air only | Air and Water |
| Water Resistance | Low (Will degrade/hydrolyze in moisture) | High (Excellent hydrolysis resistance) |
| Working Temperature | Air: -20°C to +70°C | Air: -40°C to +70°C Water: 0°C to +40°C |
| Working Pressure | Air: 0.5 to 0.8 MPa (Based on temp) | Air: 0.5 to 0.8 MPa Water: 0.4 to 0.6 MPa |
| Flexibility (4×2.5mm) | 10mm Min. Bending Radius | 8mm Min. Bending Radius (More flexible) |
| Best Used As | Standard plastic pneumatic tubing & dry pneumatic tubing circuits. | Outdoor air tubing, high-humidity environments, or pneumatic air hose lines running water. |
Customization and Specifications
Both series are available as straight tubing or coiled hose. Custom color matching and sample production are available upon request. We manufacture complete polyurethane tubing sizes in both metric polyurethane tubing (including standard 6mm polyurethane tubing) and inch dimensions to fit global equipment requirements.
Quality and Compliance
This high-quality polyurethane pneumatic tubing serves as a direct, cost-effective alternative to SMC models. The product line meets all major industrial certifications, providing identical functional performance in pneumatic control tubing systems at a significantly lower cost.
Hydrolysis Resistance: Polyester PU Tubing vs. Polyether Tubing?
- standard polyester PU Tube (LCPU) suffers from hydrolysis, meaning it degrades, becomes brittle, and cracks when exposed to moisture over time.
- Choosing a Polyether tubing (LCTU) gives you superior hydrolysis resistance, making it the only reliable choice for humid climates, wet factory floors, or water-mist environments.
Cold Performance of Polyester polyurethaneTube vs Polyether Tubing？
Under low temperatures, polyether pneumatic tubing maintains flexibility and elasticity, preventing hardening, cracking, and bending failure during continuous movement or air transfer applications.
Outdoor UV Resistance of Polyester PU Tube vs. Polyether Tubing？
The Polyether tubing (LCTU) series is the better choice for outdoor use. Its polyether formulation provides superior UV, weather, and microbial resistance compared to standard Polyurethane Tubing, helping protect polyurethane pneumatic Hose ysystems from sunlight damage, aging, and fungi growth in humid environments.
Are these tubes available in specific colors for system monitoring?
Yes. We provide various colors for line identification. This includes clear polyurethane tubing for direct visual fluid monitoring and tracking, as well as black polyurethane tubing for additional protection against outdoor elements.
Conclusion: Which One Do You Need?
Choose LCPU (Polyester PU Hose): For standard, dry, indoor pneumatic tubing setups where cost efficiency and high pressure-resistance are required.
Choose LCTU (Polyether Tubing): Whenever your application involves moisture, water delivery, outdoor weathering, or extreme sub-zero temperatures.
Request a Quote or Technical Support
If you need help selecting the right model for your machinery, or if you require specific customization for straight or coiled configurations, contact our team.
