The meaning of lubricious refers to the lubrication that makes things easy to move. Here are a few good reasons you would want your industrial or medical tubing to be smooth and lubricated for it.

Less Friction for Industrial Applications

When the tubing needs to deliver a substance that has a lower viscosity (and therefore stickier and slower speed) at high speed, you need the internal surfaces of the tubing to be as slippery as possible. Then the substance will glide right through, regardless of how sticky or slow-moving it is. Less friction also means less overheating, thereby increasing the ability and stamina of intended use of the tubing.

Simplified Processes for Medical Applications

In medical applications, the slippery interiors of tubing:

• Help move partially coagulated blood along and aid in the passing of kidney stones via a catheter. Regular tubing would only allow the accumulation of partially coagulated blood along the interior surface walls of the tubing until the tubing itself eventually becomes blocked and clogged.
• Blood clots are more easily and safely removed when suctioned through lubricious tubing, as are stubborn and unusually shaped kidney stones.
• Male erection problems can be surgically corrected by inserting small diameter lubricious tubing into the penis to help maintain an erection (but it is only used in extreme cases). The tubing allows free flow of urine and semen through its middle while also allowing flaccid penises to relax.
• Finally, lubricious tubing can temporarily act as replacement valves and blood vessels in the human body because of its flexibility and slippery smooth interior.

Easy Expandability and Sizing for Automotive Applications

Slippery coatings applied to the interior surfaces of tubing help the tubing expand and contract without bursting or cracking. This makes the tubing ideal for many automotive applications where vehicle fluids are subject to all kinds of weather and all temperatures. The tubing is able to accommodate the flexing needs of engine components and dynamic and static fluid flows.

The Process of Creating Lubricious Tubing

The process of creating lubricious tubing is hot--literally. The tubing itself is first extruded, and then turned inside out to coat it with the slip coating. Dry heat makes the coating adhere and dry quickly, then the tubing is turned outside in again. Once it is sufficiently slippery, it is difficult to work with until it is turned outside in again, but its many applications make it a favorite and highly-sought-after material. Contact a company like Diablo Sales to learn more.