Expandable Garden Hose
Drip Irrigation System Kit
Hard Garden Hose
Multiple Accessories
Natural latex hoses and TPE hoses have significant differences in terms of raw materials, physical and chemical properties, environment and human protection, cost. The following is a specific comparison from AI friends and Jane:
Natural Latex Hose: Natural latex is from rubber trees, whose mainly consists of rubber hydrocarbons, proteins, water, etc. It is milky white or light yellow in color and has natural antibacterial properties and low allergenic characteristics.
TPE Hose: TPE relies on fossil fuels and is It is a blend of styrene-based block copolymers and other thermoplastics, such as polypropylene and polyolefins.
Natural Latex Hose: Higher elasticity, stronger tear resistance, better wear resistance, excellent ozone resistance and aging resistance, normal temperature range, longer service life but high risk of sensitization (with latex protein). It is sensitive to oil and solvents and prone to corrosion.
TPE Hose: Middle elasticity and tear resistance but excellent fatigue resistance, great wear resistance, wider temperature range, normal service life and very low risk of sensitization (no latex protein). It has excellent resistance to oil, acid and alkali, and solvents.
Natural Latex Hose: Rubber trees absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and are renewable and bio-based materials. It can be decomposed by microorganisms in the natural environment, and the degradation cycle is about several months to several years (much faster than the hundreds of years of synthetic latex). For the recycling, natural latex can be recycled through desulfurization.
TPE Hose: Less volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted during the processing, reducing air pollution. The waste generated during the production process can be remelted and granulated to reduce resource waste (but it should be noted that multiple recycling may affect performance).
Natural Latex Hose: Prices are affected by climate (such as rainfall in Southeast Asia), planting area, and geopolitics (such as export policies in Southeast Asia). It is 1.8-2.8 US dollars per kilogram (average price in Southeast Asia) in 2024, the raw material utilization rate is 70% to 80% (optimized by centrifugal separation technology). And there exists extra costs caused by some processing techniques such as vulcanization, adding stabilizers and anti-aging agent to extend the shelf life.
TPE Hose: Prices are strongly correlated with oil prices. In 2024, It is 1.2-1.8 US dollars per kilogram. And the extra cost of production is less. TPE hose has better cost performance.
All in all, both of natural latex hose and TPE hose have their advantages and disadvantages. Choose the one within your budget and meet your need. hope it can help you.
