Hypodermic Tubing Materials & Sizes
Apr 19, 2022
Hypodermic Tubing Materials & Sizes
Normally constructed of 304 or 316 stainless steel due to its relative cost-effectiveness and wide acceptance in medical applications, hypodermic tubing is sized according to the Stubbs Iron Wire gauge (also known as the Birmingham Wire Gauge). The needle gauge system specifies standard outside diameters (OD), inside diameters (ID) and their respective tolerances in a stepped format where a lower gauge number translates into larger nominal hypo tube OD and ID’s. Higher gauge numbers indicate smaller OD/ID’s. Unlike ANSI screw/bolt thread standards, the hypodermic needle gauge chart does not correspond with common fractions (3/32", 1/8" etc.) with a few exceptions (21 Gauge = 1/32” OD).
An example of the hypo gauge system follows: "15 Gauge" hypo tube has a nominal outside diameter of .072" whereas "16 Gauge" hypodermic tube equates to a nominal outside diameter of .065". A list of the hypodermic gauge sizes can be found in our Master Tubing Gauge Chart. Users of hypodermic tube products select the appropriate gauge for their application depending on the finished device requirements such as but not limited to viscosity of fluid or flow rates. Standard hypodermic tubing sold by Manners is stocked for quick delivery and can be shipped within a day of ordering or sooner if required.
Hypodermic tube is usually sold in hard temper conditions. Cold work applied during the tube drawing processes result in a rigid and strong tube that does not easily flex or bend when force is applied longitudinally---features desirable on sharp needle products penetrating tissues, for example. However, it can be manufactured in intermediate or annealed (soft) tempers if an application requires it.
Please contact us if you need: zhang@sz-manners.com
