Problem

• Kinking in silicone tubing during pump operation
• Stress cracking in HDPE valve components

Investigation

• Evaluated silicone formulation and catalyst levels
• Reviewed tube geometry and length
• Analyzed injection molded valve design and material selection

Root Cause

• Insufficient catalyst in silicone composition
• Excessive tube length causing instability
• Poor gate placement and resin selection in valve design

Solution & Result

• Increased catalyst percentage in silicone tubing
• Reduced tube length to prevent kinking
• Repositioned gate in injection molded valve
• Changed resin grade for improved durability
• Eliminated tube kinking
• Removed stress cracking in valve
• Improved overall system reliability

More Info

The manufacture of silicone components is often considered by suppliers to be an art rather than a science. This is not always the case. TeckPac LCk used their knowledge of polymer compositions to convince converter to increase catalyst percent in a silicone tubing and reduce the tube length to eliminate kinking in a peristaltic pump.

TeckPac LC recommended to repositioned the gate on HDPE injection molded valve and changed the resin grade to eliminate stress cracking. The changes were implemented and eliminated cracks and kinked tubes!