New Composite Tubing for Pneumatic and Hydraulic Cylinders

A new composite tubing for pneumatic and hydraulic cylinders replaces metallic material in a variety of cylinder applications.

Polygon’s new PolySlide is made of continuous filament-wound glass fiber and polymer resins. The fiberglass filament and resin materials combine to form a high-strength component that exhibits dimensional stability, is non-corroding, impingement resistant and is non-conductive. PolySlide promises strong performance in harsh environments, high and low temperatures, grease, grit, salt, chemicals and other extreme conditions.

PolySlide cylinder tubing sizes range from as low as 0.25-inch inner diameter up to industrial-sized 24-inch inner diameters. The tubing allows the seal to slide over the bore surface contour, minimizing interlocking friction. The inside diameter of the tubing has a smooth finish. Contact with the non-metallic rod guide bearing prevents galling and provides for a low coefficient of friction. A wear-resistant material incorporated into the bore surface further increases the lifespan of the composite cylinder tubing.

The tubing is supplied as a cylinder tube ready for customer assembly or as fully engineered cylinder assemblies for equipment manufacturer applications.

Commonly found in pneumatic and low-pressure hydraulic applications such as fifth wheel actuation, gate valve actuators, water treatment flow control mechanisms and tie rod cylinders, among others, a translucent version of the composite cylinder tubing is also available.