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Industrial hose

Cryogenic transfer hose: LIN, LOX, argon, CO₂ and LNG

At −196 °C rubber is glass, so cryogenic transfer hose is stainless metal hose — cleaned, braided and certified for the gas. The temperatures on our listings, the oxygen-cleaning rule, and the couplings that go with it.

Written by
Ayush Bhatia, Director
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3 min · 4 sections
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A frosted stainless cryogenic hose connected to a liquid nitrogen tank, vapour rolling off it
Cryogenic hose for LIN, LOX, argon, CO₂ and LNG is built to stay flexible far below freezing.

At a glance

Key takeaways

  1. Cryogenic hose is metal: our LIN, LAR, LOX and LNG hoses are 316L cores with double 316L braid.
  2. Listed service temperatures: LIN −196 °C, LAR −186 °C, LOX −183 °C, LNG −162 °C, CO₂ −78 °C.
  3. Oxygen hose must be cleaned for oxygen service; our LOX hose lists CGA G-4.1 cleaning.
  4. Pressures are modest by metal-hose standards: 30–50 bar on the liquid transfer hoses, up to 100 bar on the CO₂ process connector.
  5. Non-valved cryogenic couplings, insulation covers and the right gasket complete the assembly.

Figures verified · Temperatures, pressures, sizes and certifications checked against our cryogenic hose and coupling listings.

At −196 °C a rubber hose is no longer a hose — it is brittle enough to shatter. Every cryogenic transfer line, from a nitrogen dewar to an LNG truck, is therefore a stainless steel metal hose. What separates one from another is the gas, the cleanliness it demands, the pressure, and the certifications that come with the duty.

/01By gas.

Cryogenic hose in our range
ServiceHoseRatingSizes
Liquid nitrogen (LIN)Thorburn LIN transfer hose, 316L, double braid35 bar, −196 to +60 °CDN13 – DN100
Liquid argon (LAR)Witzenmann LAR transfer hose, 316L, double braid30 bar, −186 to +60 °CDN13 – DN100
Liquid oxygen (LOX)HighlightedThorburn LOX transfer hose, 316L, double braid35 bar, −183 to +60 °CDN13 – DN100
LNG unloadingThorburn LNG unloading hose, 316L, double braid30 bar, −162 to +60 °CDN50 – DN200
LNG marine transferSenior Flexonics LNG marine hose, 316L, double braid50 bar, −162 to +60 °CDN100 – DN250
CO₂ dewar transferThorburn CO₂ connector, single braid50 bar, −78 to +60 °CDN13 – DN25
CO₂ process plantThorburn CO₂ connector, double braid100 bar, −78 to +60 °CDN25 – DN100

/02Oxygen is the special case.

Liquid and gaseous oxygen turn ordinary contamination — a film of oil, a fleck of grease, a fibre — into a fuel. Hose for oxygen service must be cleaned and kept clean for oxygen, sealed and bagged until it is installed. Our LOX transfer hose lists CGA-440 and CGA G-4.1, the Compressed Gas Association's oxygen-cleaning practice, together with UL536; our industrial oxygen service hose (CGA96) carries CGA-8.1-M86, CGA96, CGA G-4.1 and UL536. Never substitute a general-purpose metal hose on an oxygen line.

/03Couplings, insulation and frost.

Cryogenic hose ends in couplings that seal at temperature. Our Thorburn T52 non-valved cryogenic couplings come in a liquid-phase version (DN13 to DN100, 35 bar) and a vapour-return version (DN13 to DN50, 14 bar), both rated to −200 °C and listed with CGA-8.1-M86. An uninsulated cryogenic hose frosts heavily and boils off product; the ThermaCover cryogenic insulation cover fits host hoses from DN25 to DN200 and is rated to −200 °C. Keep frosted hose away from people — cold burns from bare metal at these temperatures are immediate.

/04Handling and certification.

Metal hose at cryogenic temperature is stiffer than at ambient, and the corrugations are where fatigue starts: move it only when warm where possible, never twist it, and support long runs. Specify the certification the duty requires when ordering — CGA references for industrial gases, and for marine LNG our Senior Flexonics hose lists the IGC Code with BV, DNV or Lloyd's approval selectable.

Frequently asked questions

Can rubber hose carry liquid nitrogen?
No. Rubber becomes brittle at cryogenic temperatures. Liquid nitrogen hose is stainless metal hose — ours is rated to −196 °C.
What makes a hose suitable for oxygen?
Oxygen-compatible materials and cleaning for oxygen service. Our LOX hose lists CGA G-4.1 cleaning and CGA-440.
What pressure are cryogenic hoses rated for?
Our liquid transfer hoses are rated 30–50 bar; the CO₂ process connector is rated 100 bar. Check the listing for your gas and size.
Do cryogenic hoses need insulation?
Usually. Uninsulated hose frosts and boils off product. Our ThermaCover cryogenic insulation cover fits DN25 to DN200 hose and is rated to −200 °C.

Cryogenic hose and couplings

IndustryOil and gasPressure control, drilling and downstream hose across the Gulf.

What next

  1. 01

    Find the part

    CatalogueSpecialty metal hose assembliesCryogenic, oxygen, chlorine, steam-jacketed and heated hose.CatalogueMetal hose couplingsCryogenic couplings, unions, swivel joints and tanker couplings.
  2. 02
  3. 03

    Where we supply this hose

    For chemical, food-grade, steam and water hose the certificate is most of what the buyer is actually purchasing, so it is prepared before dispatch rather than chased afterwards. We ship this class of hose from Dubai into plants audited against the same standards we quote to, with the documentation attached to the consignment and referenced on the invoice.

    GCC & Middle East

    South-East Asia

    North Africa

    East Africa

    Everything above ships from the same Dubai warehouse. If your destination is not listed, it is almost certainly still one we quote. See every export destination

Specifying a cryogenic line?

Tell us the gas, the pressure, the bore, the length and the connections at each end. We will quote the hose, couplings and insulation, cleaned and certified for the gas.

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