Shrink tubing for wires: purpose, advantages and disadvantages

Shrink wire serves as an insulator in the current carrying areas. Its application allows you to protect the process of electricity use in buildings of residential, industrial and commercial sectors. This article will help you understand which option is best to use heat shrink tubing for wire insulation and how to install it. The text contains information about the characteristics, average pricing, as well as recommendations on the choice of products.

What is shrinking: its purpose, advantages and disadvantages

A heat-shrinkable tube (shrinking) - a plastic product with insulating properties. For the manufacture of the raw material having thermal plasticity. When heated, these materials pass almost liquid form. As the cooling they become mass stretching and harden.

By types of thermoplastic plastics include:

• polyester;
• polyethylene;
• fluororubber and m. p.

Because of these properties can be given any form of heated product which will retain its after cooling, which greatly expanded the scope of termousadok. System installation is quite simple. To do this, to put the product on the site wiring or other piece of equipment that needs to be isolated, and then heat it.

Under the influence of temperature shrink tube size decreases, it shrinks and takes the shape of the object being worn. Will only have to wait until the product has hardened. For heat generally used dryer or building burner.

Note! To heat shrink tube is allowed to use an open flame, if not prohibited by safety regulations.

Scope and purpose of heat-shrinkable tubing

Termousadok properties such as elasticity, elongation capacity, resistance to aggressive chemicals and a high tensile strength, determined area of ​​their application.

Shrink predominantly used in power for such tasks:

• insulating wires, and electric current-carrying parts;
• protect areas where cable lines are connected;
• Fitting lugs and couplings on the wires;
• cable marking.

In addition, the shrinking find useful application in industry. They are widely used in the chemical, automotive and other industries.

With the help of a heat-resistant insulation for wires, you can:

• repair the defective parts of machines;
• protect the various structural elements from aggressive external environment, such as corrosion, and chemically active substances;
• prevent items from exposure to high temperatures;
• process bench tools, such as wrenches or screwdrivers, to secure their operation (creation of an insulative coating);
• protect against abrasion areas which are constantly exposed to mechanical stress (areas where construction machinery and its components are in contact).

Comparative characteristics of heat-shrinkable tape and tube

The heat-setting, as well as any other kind of insulating material, has advantages and disadvantages which depend on how convenient and useful to use the product in a particular situation. To prevent the circuit and a fire in the place where connect wiresCommonly used adhesive tape or protective tube. Determine which version of the product is better, it can only be compared with their pros and cons.

Useful advice! If the heat shrink tubing is used in the product to use with a corrugated or ribbed surface of an isolation tool is best for this purpose. They not only improve the ergonomics of the handles, but also provide a more secure grip.

Comparative characteristics of tape, and heat shrink tubing:

Insulating tape	A tube
To isolate a single compound, it takes about 2-5 minutes. (It depends on how convenient access to the site of the junction)	Installation of the product does not take much time for 5-10 seconds. can be obtained a reliable and firm connection
It does not affect the strength characteristics	After cooling the polymer becomes denser, whereby the joint area is obtained a strong and resistant to mechanical stress
The degree of fit to the wire insulation can be considered relative, the result depends on the skill electrician (material shifts toward)	It creates a completely tight connection that can serve for a long time
Affordable price	If it is intended to isolate only one connection, the costs for the purchase of goods are not justified
It is not recommended to expose the material stress, as the degree of protection is low	Material for a long period retains its insulating properties even under the influence of external factors
There is a risk that after the installation of the product line is not fit in the corrugated box or not be able to pass through a hole in the wall	the joint area with a very thin insulation is obtained and neat
To isolate the junction area between the wires, only need a knife to cut strips of desired length	Mounting product is impossible without the special tool (construction dryer, lighters or matches)
It can be used for wire insulation and of parts of any thickness	Limited choice of shrinking the size of wire

Shrink tubing for wires: product classification

Termousadok existing range can be divided into several categories. Products are classified by such characteristics:

• manufacturing material;
• geometric parameters (wall thickness and diameter);
• mounting method;
• shrinkage;
• form;
• Accessibility and t. d.

The shape of the heat shrink tube are oval, round and flattened. This parameter is selected with the mode of storage and transportation. Oval and flat articles are tubes having a large diameter and thin walls. In round termousadok usually thick walls. Among them, sometimes there are tubes with a small diameter. Round shrinking have an adhesive layer.

Note! Performance insulation qualities do not depend on its shape.

Classification-termousadok tubes by material

Industrial enterprises produce a large number of polymer materials of origin, having thermoplastic properties:

• PVC;
• polyester;
• fluorine rubber;
• polyethylene;
• polyvinylidene;
• polyethylene terephthalate;
• polymers having in their composition a polyolefin.

These raw materials in varying degrees applied in the manufacture in the manufacturing process termousadok.

Polyolefin shrinking - insulation for wires, consisting of cross-linked polyethylene. Before using the raw material is subjected to radiation and chemical treatment. In addition, manufacturers of the material include flame retardants, as well as pigment components. This type of tube is the most common. Operating temperature range of the polyolefin insulation - from -50 ° C to +150 ° C. Shrink safely tolerate contact with oxidizers and benzene, and lubricants prolonged interaction destroying its structure.

Elastomer - material based rubber obtained by artificial means. Such tubes are not afraid of influence of fuels and lubricants, as well as high temperatures (the upper limit is +170 ° C). The cost of these products is quite high.

Of a material such as polyester, manufactured shrink large diameter tubes with thin and ultrathin-walled. In this case, the product obtained, in spite of the small thickness, good abrasion resistance, and chemical exposure.

Products made of silicone-based, have flexibility, high safety strength and chemical inertness. The composition of the material no toxic components. Silicone insulation decomposes under the influence of organic solvents.

PTFE has unique insulation performance. The process of manufacturing of these products is quite complex, so their cost is very high.

Ceramic tubes of thermoplastic polyvinyl chloride have a limited operating temperature range - from -20 ° C to +80 ° C.

Note! Thermoplastic polyvinyl chloride is classified as combustible materials. In the process of combustion it releases harmful substances.

Types of products according to the method of installation: heat-setting with the adhesive layer and without

According to the mounting method distinguish glue and glueless products. The heat shrinkage, which are installed glueless manner tightness and joint strength are completely dependent on density girth and pressure.

Shrinking wire with the adhesive provide a strong and reliable fixing compounds. In these products, the inner surface is treated with a thermosetting adhesive. After the tube is installed, this agent provides a compound of tightness and shrinking itself decreases in diameter approximate threefold.

In addition, there are products with an additional longitudinal seal, e.g., Deray Duomelt 105. They have a kind of two-layer fusible tape coated with butyl rubber mastic. Tapes are used not only for sealing cables, but also to reduce the sound impact, and moisture protection.

How to use the shrinking of the tape? You need to do the following:

1. Fusible tape is used in conjunction with pipes of the same firm.
2. It is placed inside the wiring harness in the region where the heat shrinkage will be installed.
3. When heating the tube ribbon melts and fills the voids between the wires inside the harness.

Due molten wiring tape is protected from moisture, condensation, dust and even air.

Especially heat-shrinkable tubing with an adhesive layer and the solder

The category of adhesive products are shrinking wire with solder. On such tubes are red rings. These pigmented areas are thickened with heat-set adhesive layer. In the process of heating the red rings are compressed and securely fixed over the insulating sheath of the wire. This ensures the protection of the compound from moisture penetration, as well as reduced likelihood of rupture.

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Between the rings is solder flux. For the melting of this material requires relatively low temperature impact - +120 ° C. The diameter of the heat-shrinkable tube at different ends may vary. Manufacturers mark products color-coded in order to facilitate the selection of purchasers of the sleeve to the conductor.

Sizes termousadok wire solder:

cable cross-section area, mm²	color marking	Straight sleeve diameter, mm
0,3-0,5	White	1,5
0,5-1	Red	3
1-2,5	Blue	5
4	Yellow	6

Note! Before heat shrink wire solder, consider a few things. If you use a lighter, a junction is covered with soot, but a highly reliable fixation. Building dryer keeps the aesthetics and well establishes the wires. Nevertheless, such a connection is not able to withstand the frequent bends.

Variety of connectors for cars with heat shrink wire

Filling modern vehicles includes a number of electronic and electrical components. To ensure reliable and stable operation of the equipment, all connections must be durable and of good quality. This result can be achieved by using insulated wire with the shrink. The products possess unique properties, so 50% of the products manufactured by European manufacturers, involved in the automotive industry.

This category includes fasteners glue and glueless Heat-insulation for wires and heat shrink products:

• terminals;
• crimp sleeve;
• tube tips with the adhesive;
• Cable gloves;
• caps and terminations;
• clutch.

All of them can be combined with heat and not a thermoplastic adhesive and sealants.

With connectors for cables with shrink joints can be protected from mechanical impact, as well as to provide good electrical insulation. In vehicles such products are used for splicing cables, terminals and contacts, as well as some components of the motor, starter and generator. Shrinking possess dielectric properties. Large dimensional range allows the customer to choose the product to protect any wire or wires in the car.

Using pipes for wire insulation are sealed connectors and connections. Due to the fact that the producers of modern cars increased engine life and operating temperature in his compartment, molded rubber parts, as well as the technology of spraying plastics on top of the mold, can not exclude the possibility of moisture to the places joints. With this task successfully cope shrinking for cables with a high compression ratio. In such products usually increased amount of the adhesive composition.

The sale also found products used for the sealing of a bundle of wires. They are thermoplastic tubes, profiles and combined with a adhesive composition (sealant).

Note! If the tube is placed in the engine compartment, it is desirable to use a product that is designed to operate in conditions of +135 ° C or more. Wire in the trunk and inside the car, such characteristics are not required.

The wall thickness and size for the wires termousadok

Picking shrink to seal the wires, be sure to take into account the diameter and the other dimensional parameters of the tubes. All manufacturers label their products. Moreover, on the products usually indicated passage (inner) diameter, so there is no need to independently calculate the proportions in compression.

Marking on the tubes as follows:

• abbreviation of "here" indicates that it is a heat-shrinkable;
• fractional number reflects the diameter of the product to shrink (the first value) and after (the second value);
• figures that follow fractions corresponding thickness shrinking.

Sometimes a product name contains additional notes. For example, the marking "ng" means that the tube will not support combustion.

Heat-setting may also have other properties:

• High-voltage (some products can withstand high voltage - up to 1000);
• oil resistance;
• light stabilization (resistance to sunlight);
• resistance to chemical environments;
• heat resistance (no quality such as flammability).

Termousadok diameter can be varied. He was selected taking into account the size of the cable where the product will be installed. The diameter of such tubes may vary in the range of 0.2-20 cm.

In shops products come into cutting or coils (flat product variants). Depending on the tube diameter, the length of the heat-setting in the same bay can be 10-100 m. Products in cutting typically have a length of 1 m Regarding termousadok with the adhesive layer, the size of the standard tubes. - 1.22 m.

Note! Tube with thick walls, as well as the adhesive layer must not be bent, as they may appear kinks. Therefore, products of this type are not sold in rolls and sliced.

By dimensional parameters of the product can be attributed to such a characteristic as the shrinkage factor. It varies between 200-600%. Under the influence of temperature tube shrinks and decreases in diameter. This nuance is necessary to consider, choosing a product to install.

In thin walled tubes, as well as non-adhesive products shrinkage ratio is typically 4: 1. As a result, the wire insulation formed compound 1 mm thick. Thick and heat-setting glue is formed on the surface of the waterproof coating thickness of 1 to 4 mm. The compression ratio in such articles - 6: 1.

Buying heat shrink tubing: the price of the product

Heat Shrink Tubing present in the range of any building shop. They can be ordered on the Internet, available in specialized organizations that are engaged in low-current communication and solve problems of power supply, the shops and electric lighting.

Among the most popular manufacturers include the following companies:

• LG;
• Zeux;
• DAG-Canusa;
• sumitomo;
• 3M;
• Raychem.

However, the cost of branded products is quite high, so not all customers can afford it. Among the Russian brands popular thermoforming, Metatron and TMARK.

Prices termousadok different types:

product name	marking	Number of products, items.	Price, rub. / Pcs.
The tip end (the plug)	F06R5	100	3,9
F06B4	4,05
F06B5	4,36
F06Y4	6,22
F06Y5	6,66
F06Y6	7,13
The tip end (ring)	R06B4	100	4,05
R06B6	4,79
R06B10	5,56
R06B12	5,99
NR06Y4	7,05
NR06Y5	7,28
end connector	ENDCAP-2216	50	9
ENDCAP-2214	10,5
ENDCAP-1810	13,5
Flat connector with the connector ( "mother")	P06R63E	100	5,4
P06B63E	5,86
NP06R63E	5,99
NP06B63E	6,47
P06Y63	7,91
NP06Y63E	8,66
Flat connector with the connector ( "daddy")	T06R63E	100	4,66
T06B63E	5,1
NT06R63E	5,18
NT06B63E	5,63
T06Y63E	7,13
NT06Y63	7,86
A tube	06-1,25	100	3,06
N06-0,5	3,38
N06-1,26	3,38
N06-2	4,27
06-5,5	6,66
The tube with the solder	SST-100-01	100	7,06
SST-100-02	8,86
SST-100-03	9,46
SST-100-04	11,25
SST-205-04	12,24

Useful advice! For the isolation of the compounds on the wiring, power cables and tubes is better to use the heat-setting width ratio of 6: 1.

How to use heat-shrinkable tube: installation

Before attempting to install the heat-setting, it is necessary to make a number of preparatory work.

At this stage, the steps required to execute:

• pick up the phone type and size;
• determine the required amount of material for use;
• prepare tool.

Besides dryer termousadok construction, and can use another instrument, e.g., a gas or a propane soldering torch portable size. For these purposes, it is also suitable infrared burner.

How to use heat-shrinkable wire? To do this:

• Clean the surface of the wires from dirt and debris.
• Fragment cut the desired length of the tube.
• Wear on the heat-wire portion, which holds the connection.
• Using the selected tool to heat the tube along its length.

The process of installation is simple shrinking, so the procedure can independently execute anyone. If insulation is used for a long product of large diameter, it should be heated in the direction from inside to outside, by performing a pre-draft tube circumferentially.

If the installation of the heat-setting is carried out on a metal substrate with high thermal conductivity, such surface must be pre-warmed. If the connection zone has sharp edges, they are necessary to get rid of, or as a result of the shrinkage in the insulation formed punctures. It is not necessary to stretch the product, if its length is not enough to cover the joint portion as This has a negative impact on the dielectric properties and strength characteristics of heat shrinkage.

Heat Shrink Tubing reliably protect electrical connections. Shrink as a means of insulation has many advantages, so very popular.