Engineering Bulletin #150
One of the primary reasons we use metal hose is because it is corrosion resistant. In aggressive applications, other hosesโrubber or PTFE for exampleโsimply cannot handle the media without deteriorating.
Many end users focus on alloy selection when it comes to fighting corrosion. This makes sense as even among the available alloy grades resistance to media varies. The flexible metal hose industry relies on 321 and 316L for the bulk of its needs, but there are many alloys that offer superior resistance to corrosion.
For instance, The Chlorine Institute recommends Monelยฎ 400 and Hastelloyยฎ C-276 for metallic hoses used in chlorine transfer for their increased compatibility with chlorine. Even within the chlorine industry, Hastelloyยฎ C-276 is generally considered a better option than Monelยฎ 400.
The need to select the right alloy for your application is an important one, but it is not the only one. The wall thickness of the hose is a critical feature to be aware of. Media inside and sometimes in the environment outside the hose will, at some level, penetrate the hose. It may be that the penetration is only to an insignificant degree, or it could be that is enough to impair the integrity of the hose.
Where corrosion is present, a thicker wall hose will provide a longer life than a thinner wall hose made of the same alloy and used in the same application.
Expected Rates of Corrosion
Corrosion rates, or the speeds at which metal deteriorate, help illustrate the role wall thickness plays in determining corrosion resistance.
Millimeters per year (mm/y) and Mils penetration per year (MPY)โa unit of measurement equal to one thousandth of an inchโare used to measure these rates.
For instance, 316 SS is compatible with sulfuric acid. At 99% concentration, sulfuric acid moving through a 316 hose has a 2.2 MPY expected rate of corrosion. This may not be an issue with a Schedule 40 pipe, but on a 0.010โ wall hose, thatโs 20% of the wall thickness. That is an issue!

Penflex Heavier Wall Hoses
Penflex leads the industry in wall thicknesses. For our 1โ P4, the wall thickness is 0.015โ but other manufacturers offer 1โ hoses with wall thicknesses of 0.010.โ In the above situation, a Penflex P4 hose would be in service for more than 2 years before approaching the wall thickness of a new hose made with 0.010โ material. Thatโs worth thinking about!

Wall thickness matters. If you donโt consider that, then you could be using a thinner hose in a potentially dangerous scenario.