Heat shrink tubing: what is it and how to use it?

Heat shrink tubing – also called electrical shrink tubing – is an important protective and regulatory product used in various electrical arrays.

This blog will answer the question: What are heat shrink tubing used for?

In general, heat shrink tubing is a common element in most electrical installations that insulates electrical components from external factors such as moisture, dust, corrosion and sharp objects that may damage wiring and electrical components.

This type of damage eventually results in shortcomings and failures.

It will also tie loose wires, connectors, joints, terminals and connections together, creating more organized and manageable bundles.

The use of color-coded heat shrink tubing helps make wires and components easier to identify.

What is heat shrink?
Cable Type Heat shrink tube is a thermoplastic tube that shrinks when exposed to heat.

When placed around wiring arrays and electrical components, heat shrink tubing collapses diagonally to fit the perimeter of the device, creating a protective layer.

They may cover sections of individual wires or entire arrays and protect against abrasion, low impact, cuts, moisture and dust.

To create heat shrink tubing, plastic manufacturers first use extrusion to make a tube from a thermoplastic material.

The materials used for heat shrink tubing vary depending on the intended application.

Once the desired plastic has been extruded, the material is heated and forced to expand, increasing the diameter of the tube.

The expanded tubes are allowed to cool to room temperature and set.

This expanded thermoplastic tube is then placed around wires or other desired components and heated to a specific temperature.

The heat causes the tube to soften and shrink back to its original extruded size, effectively enclosing the wires or other components within an airtight layer of protective plastic.

Benefits of Heat Shrink
Versatile and easy to use, heat shrink tubing offers many unique advantages, including:

Protection against abrasion, low impact and sharp cutting edges
Defense against water, chemicals, dust and other intrusive contaminants
Organize wires and cables into easy-to-handle bundles
Smoother feel and finish
Electrical and thermal insulation
Enhanced structural support to reduce stress on wires, connectors and components
Compatible with color additives to aid wire identification
Heat Shrink Tubing Materials
Heat shrink tubing can be manufactured from a wide range of thermoplastic materials and is often combined with… Added to enhance specified properties.

Common materials used for heat shrink tubing include:

Polyolefin:

Polyolefin is the most popular material for shrink tubing due to its thermal resistance. It is more expensive than PVC but is able to withstand temperatures of up to 125-135°C.

This property makes it ideal for manufacturing, industrial and mechanical applications with high operating temperatures.
Adhesive-lined polyolefin:

To provide a safer tube that does not slip in critical conditions,

Manufacturers have created polyolefin heat shrink tubing with an adhesive inner layer that melts and adheres to the wires and components inside the tube to fill voids and ensure a close fit.

Added adhesive provides additional support and increased protection from moisture and harsh conditions.
PVC:

PVC is less expensive than polyolefin but has a lower temperature threshold of about 105°C. PVC material is durable, strong and highly abrasion resistant.

It can be manufactured with high definition, bright colors, flame retardant properties,

Making it a very versatile and cost-effective option for low temperature applications.
Other materials used in heat shrink tubing include PTFE, FEP, elastomers, silicone rubber, and Viton.

The best material type depends primarily on the conditions in which the equipment will operate and the shrinkage required to create the desired seal.

High quality heat shrink tubing from standardized electronic wire and cable
Whether for low impact indoor applications or heavy duty industrial settings,

Heat shrink tubing materials can protect and organize wires, connectors and other electrical components.

At Uniform Electronic Cables & Wires, we offer a comprehensive range of heat shrink-wrapped wires, cables and parts to meet the needs of almost any application.

Gahzly

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