After long-term use, will the air hose age or degrade in performance?

Air hoses are mainly made of synthetic materials such as nylon, polyurethane (PU), and polyethylene (PE). Although these materials are specially treated during manufacturing to enhance their durability, their molecular structure may still change and degrade in performance after long-term exposure to specific environments. To improve the performance of the hose, manufacturers often add additives such as antioxidants and UV absorbers. However, these additives will gradually deplete over time, lose their protective effect, and accelerate the aging of the hose.
Extreme temperature conditions (such as high or low temperatures) will accelerate the aging process of the material, causing the hose to harden, become brittle, or soften, affecting its strength and sealing. High humidity environments or corrosive media (such as acids, alkalis, salts, etc.) will accelerate material corrosion, causing cracks and peeling on the surface of the hose. Long-term exposure to sunlight will cause ultraviolet rays to destroy the chemical bonds on the surface of the material, resulting in color fading, surface hardening, and embrittlement.
Frequent mechanical stresses such as bending, twisting, and stretching will cause stress concentration inside the hose, accelerating crack formation and expansion. If the hose is not properly aligned, tightened or left with enough margin during installation, it may cause the hose to be subjected to additional stress during use and accelerate aging.
Cracks, hardening, discoloration, peeling and other phenomena may appear on the surface of the hose, affecting its aesthetics and service life. The decline of key performance indicators such as pressure resistance, temperature resistance, corrosion resistance, and flexibility may cause safety hazards such as leakage and rupture of the hose during use. The hose joints or connections may loosen or deform due to aging, resulting in poor sealing and affecting the normal operation of the system.
Select the appropriate hose material according to the specific application scenario, such as high temperature resistant materials for high temperature environments and corrosion resistant materials for corrosive environments. Consider using enhanced or specially formulated materials to improve the durability and anti-aging ability of the hose.
Regularly inspect the appearance of the hose to promptly detect and deal with signs of aging such as cracks, hardening, and discoloration. Check whether the hose connection is loose or deformed to ensure a good seal. Clean the dirt and dust on the surface of the hose and keep it clean and dry.
Avoid excessive bending, twisting or stretching of the hose to reduce the impact of mechanical stress on the hose. Ensure that the hose is installed correctly and leave enough margin to cope with the expansion and contraction caused by temperature changes. Avoid exposing the hose to extreme temperatures, humidity or corrosive media to reduce the aging rate. Replace severely aged hoses in time according to the service life and aging degree of the hose to ensure safe and stable operation of the system. Regularly test the performance of the hose to ensure that it meets the requirements of use.
The aging or performance degradation of air hoses is a complex process involving multiple factors. By selecting the right material, regular maintenance and inspection, correct use and installation, and timely replacement of aging hoses, you can effectively extend its service life and reduce safety risks.