The heat shrink tubing are flexible tubes made of polymer material, designed to reduce in diameter when exposed to heat, creating a protective covering and seal. These materials, usually polyolefins, PVC or fluoropolymers, offer a versatile and resistant solution for electrical insulation, protection from external agents, mechanical protection and wiring organization.
Types of Heat Shrink Tubing
- Thin wall: These are the most common sheaths, consisting of a single layer of material, mainly used for electrical insulation and mechanical protection of wires and cables. The most common are made of polyolefin.
- Medium thickness with internal adhesive: This type of adhesive heat shrink tubing has an adhesive layer that melts during shrinkage, ensuring better adhesion and protection against humidity and dust. The increased thickness of the tubing ensures good mechanical resistance to abrasion and/or impacts.
- Chemical resistant sheaths: Made of materials such as fluoropolymer, they are designed to withstand harsh chemicals and high temperatures. These chemically resistant sheaths are often used in industrial and laboratory environments.
- Heat Shrink Tubing Electrical Cable Caps, useful for the electrical cable laying phase.
Dimensions
Industrial heat shrink tubing comes in a variety of sizes, primarily characterized by the shrink ratio, which can range from 2:1 to 6:1. For example, a 2:1 heat shrink tubing shrinks to half its original diameter when heated. They are available in diameters ranging from a few millimeters to several tens of centimeters, adaptable to a variety of industrial and domestic contexts.
Uses
Heat shrink tubing is used in many sectors:
- Electronics: used for insulating wires, cables and connectors. Heat shrink tubing for electronics protects components from short circuits and mechanical damage.
- Automotive: Automotive heat shrink tubing is used to protect wiring from vibration, wear and tear, and weather conditions.
- Industry: Industrial heat shrink tubing guarantees resistance to corrosion and wear.
- Fiber optics: A fiber optic heat shrink tubing is designed to protect thin fiber optic cables from bending and external agents.
- High temperature: High temperature heat shrink tubing is designed to withstand extreme thermal conditions without losing its effectiveness.
- Exposure to UV rays: UV-resistant heat shrink tubing provides long-lasting protection against solar degradation.
- Waterproof: Heat shrinkable waterproof tubing is ideal for applications in humid or submersible environments.
- Aerospace and naval sector: used for the protection of critical wiring, ensuring chemical, thermal and mechanical resistance.
- Protective cable sheath: helps protect electrical cables from external agents, abrasion and heat.
- Fireproof heat shrink tubing: designed to ensure greater safety in environments where the risk of fire is high.
- Adhesive heat shrink tubing: perfect for a more stable fixing, thanks to the presence of the internal adhesive.
Because of their versatility, polyolefin heat shrink tubing is used in applications that require high resistance to heat and harsh chemicals. Cable sleeving is essential for safe and efficient wire management, while thermal wire sleeving helps reduce heat loss in electronic components.
