At the beginning of the industrial development, electricity has become one of the important energy sources that are indispensable in people’s lives. With the development of the powder industry, various products that are conducive to the use of power protection have gradually been extended. Cold shrinking tubing is one of them. It is mainly used for the protection of communication power cables, which prolongs the service life of the cables. It is a commonly used protective product in the power industry.
1. Meaning of the cold shrink tube
Cold shrink tubes are an insulating tube made of silicone, mainly used for the protection of communication cables and power cables to prevent the cables from being damaged by external factors during use. Compared with heat shrink tubing, it is more convenient, stable and corrosion-resistant, and is a common product for cable and communication protection.
2. Classification of cold shrink tube
- Silicone cold shrink tube:
The main material is silicone, which has a wider temperature resistance range, can withstand temperatures from -60 to 230 degrees Celsius (-76 to 446 degrees Fahrenheit), has excellent weather resistance, can withstand ozone and ultraviolet rays, remains stable at high temperatures, is not easy to deform, and has better flexibility and tear resistance, and has a higher shrinkage rate, which makes it provide better weather resistance and shrinkage rate in coaxial connectors.
- EPDM cold shrink tube:
This is a synthetic rubber, mainly composed of ethylene, propylene and diene monomers, with a temperature range of -40 to 130 degrees Celsius, excellent weather resistance, can withstand ozone and ultraviolet rays, and is less likely to breed bacteria in a humid environment. It will gradually shrink at high temperatures and become severely deformed at about 125 degrees Celsius. It is more durable than silicone and has better tear and puncture resistance.
3. Application scenarios of cold shrink tube
Compared with EPDM cold shrink tube, silicone cold shrink tube is more suitable for outdoor use. Its good weather resistance can make its service life reach 10 years or even longer, while the outdoor service life of EPDM is 5-10 years, so if you use it outdoors, silicone cold shrink tube will be the best choice. If you want to use it indoors and the temperature is stable, then EPDM will be a good choice. It is cheaper and more cost-effective than silicone cold shrink tube.
4. How to choose cold shrink tube
- Cable specifications: Determine the cable model, voltage level, and cross-sectional area. Confirm the cable diameter to ensure that the cold shrink tubing can completely cover the cable.
- Application environment: Consider the environmental conditions where the cold shrink tubing will be used, such as temperature range, UV exposure, chemical exposure, humidity, etc. Determine whether special materials, such as silicone or EPDM, are required to adapt to specific environments.
- Voltage level: Select cold shrink tubing that meets or exceeds the voltage level of the cable system. Confirm that the insulation performance of the cold shrink tubing meets the application requirements.
- Shrinkage ratio: Understand the shrinkage ratio of the cold shrink tubing to ensure that it can provide sufficient shrinkage force to maintain a tight fit after installation.
- Installation requirements: Consider the convenience of installation and choose cold shrink tubing that is easy to install. Confirm whether there are special installation tools or technical requirements.
- Mechanical properties: Select appropriate mechanical strength, such as tear resistance, abrasion resistance, etc. according to the application environment.
- Heat resistance: Confirm whether the heat resistance of the cold shrink tubing meets the high temperature conditions that may be encountered.
Combine the above information with the actual application of the product to select the most suitable solution for your product.
