Materials for STAUFF clamps

Table of contents

1. STAUFF and the clamp
2. We recommend: Our proven standards
3. Our clamp materials at a glance
4. Special materials for our clamps
5. FAQs on our clamp materials

Polypropylene, PP for short, has been the established standard material for STAUFF clamp bodies in a wide range of series and designs for many years. Its green colour stands for reliable, proven material quality. It remains permanently dimensionally stable and resistant over a wide temperature range from -30 °C to +90 °C.

An outstanding advantage of PP is its resistance to water: it absorbs practically no moisture and does not swell, which is particularly advantageous when installing in humid environments. However, it should be noted that the material is only partially resistant to mineral oils commonly used in hydraulics at high temperatures. Permanent, extensive contact can impair the mechanical properties.

Essential properties of PP:

• Colour: Green

• Temperature range: -30 °C to +90 °C (permanent), short-term up to +110 °C

• Resistant to water, limited resistance to mineral oils

• Good chemical resistance and impact strength

Thanks to its economic advantages and versatility, polypropylene remains the first choice for numerous standard applications in mechanical engineering, hydraulics and stationary installations.

In addition to our standard green polypropylene, we also offer the black PP-BK variant in many cases. It is technologically based on the same material and retains all the positive properties - such as high impact strength, temperature resistance and water resistance.

The decisive difference lies in the improved UV resistance: the black colouring significantly increases protection against solar radiation, making PP-BK particularly suitable for outdoor applications.

Key properties of PP-BK:

• Colour: Black

• Temperature range: -30 °C to +90 °C (permanent)

• Improved UV resistance with the same mechanical performance as PP

PP-BK significantly extends the range of applications for polypropylene and makes the material even more versatile for demanding outdoor environments.

Polyamide (PA), recognisable by its black colouring, is the ideal alternative to polypropylene when the requirements for mechanical strength and resistance increase. Its excellent UV stability is particularly noteworthy, making PA the preferred choice for outdoor applications. It covers a wide temperature range from -40 °C to +120 °C and can even withstand up to +140 °C for short periods.

In contrast to PP, polyamide offers improved resistance to long-term contact with mineral oils, which are widely used in hydraulics. However, PA reacts more sensitively to contact with water: Permanent exposure can impair the mechanical properties, as PA can absorb up to 10 % water.

Essential properties of PA:

• Colour: Black

• Temperature range: -40 °C to +120 °C (permanent), short-term up to +140 °C

• High UV and weather resistance

• Resistant to mineral oils, limited resistance to water

Polyamide is used wherever mechanical robustness and resistance to harsh environmental conditions are required - for example in mobile machinery, agricultural technology or demanding outdoor installations.

Aluminium (AL) impresses with its silvery-grey, shiny metallic surface and is the preferred material when maximum dimensional stability is required. With its enormous mechanical strength and the ability to permanently withstand temperatures of up to 300 °C, aluminium opens up a wide range of applications, even under extreme conditions.

Its excellent resistance to common chemicals and environmental influences makes aluminium a particularly durable material. However, caution is required when working with stainless steel components: Electrochemical reactions can lead to contact corrosion. In addition, aluminium clamp bodies are around four to five times heavier than comparable plastic solutions.

Key properties of AL:

• Colour: silvery-grey, shiny metallic

• Temperature range: Up to +300 °C (permanent)

• Excellent resistance to chemicals and weathering

• Risk of contact corrosion when combined with stainless steel

Aluminium is the ideal choice for particularly robust applications, for example in the oil and gas industry, in shipbuilding or in high-temperature environments.

Thermoplastic elastomer (SA) is the first choice when particularly gentle fastening of cables is required. The black material combines excellent vibration-damping properties with a balanced level of holding force. A hardness grade of 87 Shore A is used as standard, which offers the best compromise between flexibility and mechanical stability.

SA clamp bodies also compensate for minimal tolerance deviations in cable diameters better than harder materials. The material is resistant to water and is suitable for a permanent temperature range of -40 °C to +125 °C. In terms of mineral oil resistance, SA has similar properties to polypropylene: extensive, permanent contact can impair mechanical performance.

Key properties of SA:

• Colour: Black

• Temperature range: -40 °C to +125 °C (permanent)

• Vibration-damping and tolerant of dimensional deviations

• Resistant to water, limited resistance to mineral oils

Thermoplastic elastomer offers the perfect solution for sensitive systems and installations where a high level of vibration and noise insulation is required in addition to a secure hold.