1. What are Typical Heat Shrinkable Tubing Applications?
2. What Industry Specifications are Followed?
3. How do I size heat shrink tubing correctly?
4. Thin Wall or Dual Wall?
5. What is the difference between PVC and polyolefin?
6. What Materials are Available?

Typical applications can be found in the field of insulating, terminating,
splicing, cable bundling, color coding, strain relief, wire marking, mechanical
protection, environmental protection, corrosion protection, and moisture
sealing.

Heat shrinkable tubing products can be found in all major markets, such as
the automotive industries, electronics industries, power stations, cable and
wire industries, appliances, audio and video, power distribution, shipbuilding,
communications and tele-communications, off-shore industry, spacecraft, military
industry, aviation industry, do-it-yourselves stores, medical industries, rail
and rapid transit, building and constructions and many other markets.

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Heat shrinkable plastic tubing, plastic tubing and sleeving is manufactured to certain industry specifications. These specifications include:

AMS - Aerospace Material Standards

ASTM - American Society for Testing and Materials

NEMA - National Electrical Manufacturers

CSA - Canadian Standards Association

Commercial

FDA - Food and Drug Administration

Mil - Military

UL - Underwriter's Laboratory

Federal

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The inside diameter of shrink tubing depends on the outside diameter of the substrate onto which you will be shrinking. In this WEB site, we provide expanded inside diameters and recovered inside diameters for your referral. Choose an expanded size that fits over your substrate and will shrink down with heat more than the substrate outside diameter for a snug fit. Shrink ratios are available in 2:1, 3:1, and custom ratios. For a thinner recovered tube wall thickness, choose an expanded size that just slips over the substrate.

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Thin-wall tubing provides superior insulation, strain relief, and protection against mechanical damage and abrasion. Benefits include:

When corrosion protection and sealing are required, use heat-shrinkable dual-wall tubing. During installation, an adhesive lining melts and flows, creating a moisture-resistant protective barrier. Benefits of this type of tubing include:

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They are completely different polymers with different advantages. PVC has better clarity, colorability, UV resistance, chemical resistance, and is less expensive than polyolefin. Polyolefin has been a workhorse in the electronics market for years because of its wider operating temperature range, extended shelf life, light weight, and proven track record. The key to product selection is to use the product that meets your requirements and specifications.

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Heat Shrinkable Tubing : Polyolefin (Thin Wall, Dual Wall & Heavy Wall), Kynar, Neoprene, PVC, Teflon TFE/FEP, Nylon, Viton.

Extruded Tubing : Polypropylene, Eva, Urethane, PVC, Polyethylene, Neoprene, Silicone, Thermoplastic Rubber (TPR), Teflon TFE/FEP.

Braided Sleeving : Fiberglass, Varnished, Acrylic Coated, Vinyl Coated, Silicone Coated, PET Monofilament.

For more information see our Products page or Contact Us or send us an Email.

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