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Make sure your hose clips can stand the test of time
By Tom Allen, sales & marketing manager, JCS.
By specifying the correct material for the application, users and specifiers of hose clips can ensure their products of choice last a lifetime and continue to look as good as new for many years to come.
Stainless Steel and Zinc plated mild steel clips are the most popular materials for worm drive hose clamps and are used by hundreds of businesses worldwide. Stainless steel clips offer the highest level of corrosion resistance, and so are ideal for use in aggressive and marine environments. However, due to the high raw material costs a quality zinc-plated mild steel clip is often more than adequate for applications in a less challenging environment.
Stainless Steel
When sourcing stainless steel hose clips, look for clips that are made completely of high grade 304 or 316 stainless steel; these are the two most common grades of stainless steel and are renowned for their excellent corrosion resistance due to the high levels of chromium and molybdenum they contain respectively.
Be aware that some suppliers fit a .410 grade stainless steel screw to their hose clips – this is a low grade stainless steel and can corrode quickly. The reason some companies do this is because getting stainless steel of the same grade to work together can be difficult due to the fact that galling can occur and the items can stick. By using the .410 grade together with 304 or 316 stainless steel, this issue can be avoided.
At JCS, our own approach has been to engineer the clips and develop a specialist lubricant in order that galling is not issue. Being made completely of high-grade stainless steel, JCS clips are suitable for use in highly corrosive environments and are used extensively throughout the marine, oil & gas and drainage industries. All JCS stainless steel clamps also carry Lloyds Type Approval.
Fully zinc-plated
Regardless of the environment, mild steel will always require some additional protection from corrosion; whether that be paint, galvanizing or electroplating. The most common protection for hose clips is electro zinc plating because of its quality finish and the accurate way in which it can be applied to the clamps with the same uniform thickness.
In the case of JCS’ Hi-Grip zinc-plated hose clips, the zinc electro-plating of all parts also gives the clips a mirror-like quality finish. In order to achieve the best possible corrosion resistance and finish, we have developed and built a bespoke electro-plating plant specifically for Hi-Grip hose clips at our factory in Suffolk under our own strict quality control procedures.
Ideally, all parts of the clip should be zinc electro-plated before assembly and fully passivated to reduce the chemical reactivity of the surfaces; thus adding a further layer of protection.
The production methods involved in manufacturing the clips should ensure that the edges of the band are fully plated. This is not the case with some products, where a pre-plated steel plate is slit into strips; leaving an un-plated, unprotected edge along the length of the clip which can be prone to corrosion within a short timeframe.
From tests conducted in a calibrated salt spray chamber, JCS zinc-plated clips offer a high degree of corrosion resistance, making them ideal for use in virtually all industries –predominantly automotive, rail, manufacturing and agricultural.
When it comes to choosing hose clips, don’t take chances in terms of the integrity of the materials and the processes used in their production. Remember, the failure of a hose clamp can mean a failure of your product.
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