FAQs

What are Typical Heat Shrinkable Tubing Applications?

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.

What Industry Specifications are Followed?

All of our heat shrinkable plastic tubing and sleeving is manufactured pertaining 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

How do I Size Heat Shrink Tubing Correctly?

The inside diameter of shrink tubing depends on the outside diameter of the substrate onto which you will be shrinking. In this website, 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.

Thin Wall or Dual Wall?

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

• Reliably consistent dimensions and physical properties.
• Meets with MIL-I-23053 and MIL-R-46846 standards.
• UL/CSA recognized.

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:

• Controlled amounts of adhesive and consistent results.
• Compliance with MIL-I-23053 standards.
• UL/CSA recognition

What is the Difference Between PVC and Polyolefin?

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.

What Materials are Available?

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