FKM Lined Silicone Hose

FKM-Lined Silicone Hose — Engineered for Hydrogen Transmission

Material & Structural Engineering

Inner Liner: FKM (Fluoroelastomer)

»Provides exceptional resistance to hydrogen, fuels, oils, solvents, and gases.

»Offers very low permeation rates compared to unlined silicone, significantly reducing hydrogen loss through the hose wall.

»FKM’s stable chemical structure contributes to extremely low chemical leaching and outgassing, supporting system purity and safety.

Reinforcement & Outer Silicone Layer

»The reinforcement layer (e.g., polyester/aramid) provides controlled mechanical strength, pressure capacity, and dimensional stability under dynamic operation.

»The silicone outer elastomer maintains thermal flexibility, ozone/UV resistance, and structural resilience over wide temperature ranges.

This engineered composite structure combines the best attributes of FKM’s chemical barrier properties with silicone’s mechanical and thermal performance, making it suitable for advanced hydrogen systems.

FKM lined silicone hose

FKM line silicone hose for hydrogen fuel cell

Key Performance Characteristics

Engineering Testing & Validation

To ensure system reliability and compliance with hydrogen transmission requirements, the following engineering tests are recommended:

1. Hydrogen Permeation and Leak Testing

»Quantitative evaluation of hydrogen permeation rates under operational conditions.

»Helium or hydrogen leak testing (e.g., vacuum decay or sniffing) to verify gas tightness.

2. Low Outgassing Characterization

»Measurement of chemical species emitted under elevated temperature and flow conditions.

»Validation for use in systems where contamination control is required.

3. Pressure & Burst Testing

»Static and dynamic pressure tests to confirm working pressure limits and safety margins.

»Burst tests to establish failure thresholds under over-pressure conditions.

4. Temperature Cycling & Thermal Shock

»Repeated high/low temperature cycles to assess mechanical integrity and liner-bond durability.

»Ensures performance stability in thermal transient environments.

These test protocols help support technical approvals, qualification reports, and system certification for hydrogen and fuel cell OEMs.

Typical Engineered Applications

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Systems

»Hydrogen feed lines and auxiliary gas circuits

»Reformer and purge gas connections
FKM-lined hose delivers low permeation and high gas tightness, reducing hydrogen loss and improving system efficiency.

Hydrogen Distribution & Industrial Gas Handling

»Gas transmission and distribution manifolds

»Industrial gas blending and purge systems
The combination of low outgassing and excellent sealing supports high-purity gas transfer in industrial environments.

Automotive & Powertrain Integrations

»Integration in fuel cell vehicle (FCV) hydrogen lines

»Secondary gas circuits in hybrid powertrain systems
The engineered hose meets both chemical stability and mechanical durability demands of automotive OEMs.

Customization & Engineering Support

FKM-lined silicone hoses can be tailored to meet specific engineering constraints:

»Custom inner diameters, wall thicknesses, and lengths

»Reinforcement options for higher pressure or dynamic vibration tolerance

»Special surface finishes and marking for traceability

»Material compounds optimized for purity requirements

Engineering consultation is available to align hose design with system pressure profiles, temperature extremes, chemical exposure, and safety standards.

Quality Assurance & Documentation

Hoses are manufactured under controlled processes with:

»Incoming material inspection and traceability

»In-process quality monitoring

»Final leak/permeation testing and certification

Test reports can be supplied to support OEM qualification, PPAP, and quality audits.