A plastic hose contains plasticizers to maintain its flexibility.

The type of plasticizers used depends on the hose’s intended purpose and its compatibility with specific simulants (as per Regulation 10/2011/EU).

Certain substances transported through the hose can leach out some plasticizers, causing the hose to become rigid over time.

This typically occurs when the hose was not properly selected for the specific substance being transported from the wide range of available options.

In addition to these chemical reasons, hoses may also become rigid (age) over time due to physical factors, such as exposure to UV radiation.

Not all hoses are formulated with additives to enhance UV resistance.