How to Choose the Correct Heat Shrink Tubing?

Heat shrink tubing is a standard product used in various electrical setups to protect electrical parts from moisture, dust, abrasion, and sharp objects which can damage wires and other electrical components. Heat shrink tubing also helps secure loose binding cables, connectors, joints, and terminals to create organized bundles. In addition, color-coded heat shrink tubing may aid in facilitating wires and the identification of similar components.

What Is Heat Shrink Tubing?

Heat shrink tubing comprises thermoplastic tubes, and this material can be shrunk when exposed to heat. However, the material used to fabricate such tubing depends on the intended application. When heat shrink tubing is placed around wire arrays and other electrical parts, it collapses to fit the equipment's contours and creates a protective layer when external heat is applied. This layer acts to cover certain parts of the wire and the entire array to protect against abrasion, low-impact cuts, moisture, and dust.

To create heat shrink tubing, plastic manufacturers must begin with an extruded thermoplastic material. After extrusion, the material is forced to increase in diameter by expanding it with heat. This process requires the tubing to rest at a cool temperature to provide some time for the finished product to set. Next, the expanded tube is placed around the wire, and the electrical components are heated to a specific temperature. The introduction of heat will make the tube soft and shrink to its apparatus’ size, closing the wire and other parts in a tight protective layer.

How to Choose the Right Heat Shrink Tubing?

Heat-shrink tubing is an essential tool for many different applications and the amount of available materials and options can be overwhelming, but some general-purpose choices will work well in most cases. The majority are made from cross-linked polymers that do not melt or flow when heated up; instead, they become rubbery while maintaining their basic shape at room temperature. This makes them great for improving thermal, physical, and chemical resistance, among other things. Some popular choices include polyolefin, which can be used unless you have special considerations about its properties with specific applications.

You should consider the following parameters while selecting heat-shrink tubing for your job:

Shrink Ratio

The shrink ratio is a ratio between the diameter of the shrink tube before it is heated and reduced in diameter once heat is applied. When searching for a heat shrink tube which best suits your intended application, you should not purchase tubing with a higher ratio than your specified job requirements.

Sleeve Diameter

When applying a shrink tube, you do not want the sleeve to shrink completely, but just enough so that it fits snug against all other items being sealed away from view. Regarding the tubing’s shrink ratio, make sure the final shrink diameter is always smaller than the object it is attached to.

Wall Thickness

The wall thickness of an object refers to the amount of insulation it applies or jackets around an apparatus. For example, heat-shrink sleeves come in different wall thicknesses. A thicker wall provides more abrasion resistance and rigidity, but not necessarily better durability overall. Additionally, thin walls are perfect if you do not require a particular robustness for your application(s).

Stiffness

To ensure wires are not destroyed by the inevitable exposure to flexing, it is best to mitigate their movement with the application of a more rigid sleeve like heat-shrink tubing. Its particular qualities help to reduce movement while keeping things nice and organized.

Shrink Temperature

The faster a product shrinks, the higher its performance. Common polyolefin materials have recommended minimum and maximum temperatures for shrinking from 90°C to 250°C. However, other substances can also achieve these high levels of heat stability, such as Teflon, with an exceptional limit of 217 Celsius °C .

Benefits of Heat Shrink Tubing

Versatile and easy to use, heat shrink tubing has various benefits including:

It works to protect against abrasions, sharp cuts, water, chemicals, dust, and other contaminants.
It helps organize bundled wires and cables with ease.
It also has a smooth texture and appearance that aids in electrical and thermal insulation.
It enhances the structural support of all adhered items, lessening the strain on wires, connectors, and other electrical parts.

Conclusion

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