What Is Heat Shrink Tubing And How Is It Used?

by Avadhesh Sharma SEO Analyst

Heat shrink tubing also referred to as heat shrink, is a shrinkable tube that shrinks radially when heated. Partex Heat Shrink Tubes is manufactured in a two-step process and is available in a variety of materials to suit practically any application. Heat shrink tubing can be used to provide electrical insulation to wires, connectors, joints, terminals, and splices, as well as to bundle loose things like cables and as a protective covering.

A conventional extrusion method is used in the initial step of tubing fabrication. The tubing material is chosen in this phase based on its qualities to meet the environment in which the tube will eventually be employed. Other additives, such as colourants and UV stabilizers, are added to the base material.

The Advantages of Heat Shrink Tubing

And is used as a protective layer, heat shrink guards against erosion, slicing, scuffing, and low-intensity applications. It can be utilized with nearly any conductor design. Heat shrink supplied by Partex heat shrink tubes supplier in UAE can also be used to make cable entry seals that protect the cable from the environment.

This protection enables components to be used in environments where they may be subjected to moisture, chemicals, dust, and other tiny particulates.

Material for Heat Shrink Tubing

Polyolefin-based materials provide numerous advantages over other types of materials. The key advantage is its capacity to endure temperatures ranging from 125°C to 135°C.

If cost is a primary consideration when selecting a heat shrink material, PVC-based heat shrink can be created. PVC cannot handle greater temperatures as well as polyolefin materials; normally, the maximum temperature is 105°C.

PVC

PVC, on the other hand, is significantly more competitively priced, costing between 10% and 50% less than polyolefin. If a transparent tube is required, PVC-based heat shrink tubes provide brighter and more vibrant colours as well as higher clarity. PVC is also fire resistant and has higher tensile high abrasion tolerance than polyolefin composites.

Adhesive-lined heat stretch tubes are available in some varieties. This version, also referred to as dual wall tubing, features an inner adhesion wall that dissolves and runs when heated to shorten the tube. Because the adhesive flows, it easily fills cavities and adheres to the surface of an object inside the tube. The adhesive then solidifies and forms an environmental seal, keeping moisture and other pollutants out of the things inside the tube.

Other Materials

Other materials for heat shrink tubing include elastomeric, FEP, PVDF, silicon rubber, PTFE, Viton, and other speciality materials. The use of these materials would be determined by the environment in which the shrink tube would be employed.

Heat shrink tubing is shrunk by heating it in an oven or with a hand-held hot air gun. Other ways, such as placing a solder gun close to the tube or using a hand-held lighter, can be employed, but they are not suggested.

Categories

The material utilized, the internal diameter of the essentially referred tube, and the shrinkage ratio are all used to classify heat stretch pipes. The shrink ratio is the ratio between the size of the original tubing to its shrunken final form.

The most common ratios are:

When heat is applied to a tube, it shrinks to half its original size. A further approach to look at it is that the larger version will be twice as large as the shorter package.

When heated, the tube shrinks to one-third of its original size. A different approach to look at it is that the original size will be three times larger than the shrunken form.

When heated, the tube shrinks to one-quarter of its original size. A way to look at it is that the original size is four times larger than the shrunken form.

Choosing the suitable heat shrink tubing size for the application is entirely dependent on being able to take accurate measurements. The minimum and maximum elements to be enclosed will decide the size of both the shrink tube necessary. The ID of the tube should be approximately 25% bigger than the diameter of the largest component to be covered. This distinction makes it easier to slide the tube over the component. The shrink ratio of the tubing required is determined by the measurement of the smallest component.

Final Words

Heat shrink tubing has a wide range of applications. It is a suitable substitute for a cable jacket when used to connect wires together. Shrink tubing has the same or superior temperature ranges as a cable jacket and the same ability to isolate the components beneath it as a cable jacket.