Heat-shrink Tubing FITCOTUBE®

Heat shrinkable tubing: Material types and applications

For high-tech cabling applications, our heat shrinkable tubing is a core part of GREMCO’s wide range of components. These tubings can be diversified into several different groups suitable for a variety of different applications throughout the automotive sector as well as aerospace, medical, environmental and general industry. Crucial to these diverse scopes of application are the varying base plastics from which the hoses are manufactured. Among the most relevant plastics for the production of heat shrink tubing are:

• Polyolefin
• PVC
• Elastomers
• Fluoroplastics
• Silicone

Polyolefin heat shrinkable tubing

Owing to its shape-flexible, flame-retardant, self-extinguishing and cost-effective properties, polyolefin is ideally suited for processing into heat shrinkable tubing. Accordingly, polyolefin heat shrinkable tubing is among our main product lines. In dependency on the additive ingredients involved, a variety of quality levels adapted to the respective application context are obtained. Specific properties of the tubes may vary depending on the quality level. Similarly, the shrinkage ratio can fluctuate from 2:1 to 4:1. Likewise, the temperature resistance may range from -55°C up to a maximum of 135°. Customized products are available in a variety of colors, depending on requirements. The primary volume of polyolefin tubing is in the automotive sector. For instance, they are used for abrasion protection in hose systems or electrical insulation in splices. Furthermore, the tubing is used in the electrical industry at contact points and, with the appropriate approvals, in aviation and electrical engineering. An example of a polyolefin heat shrinkable tubing is the FITCOTUBE® FT100, which has a shrink ratio of 2:1 and a permissible temperature range from -55°C to 135°C.

PVC

PVC (polyvinyl chloride) heat shrinkable tubing is characterized by its flexibility, flame resistance and low-cost production. The tubing can be supplied in a wide range of dimensions regarding length, inner diameter and wall thickness. Specially cut-to-length products can be provided upon request. In principle, mentioned PVC products can be used almost universally for cable protection. The main area of application, however, are battery packs, where the shrink tubes secure and protect the individual battery cells. In precisely this context, for example, our FITCOTUBE® FT 90 is used, featuring a shrink ratio of 1.5:1 to 2:1 along with an operational temperature range from -20 to 90°C.

Elastomers

Generally, elastomers can be characterized as flexible, extremely resistant plastics. Consequently, GREMCO elastomer heat shrinkable tubing is characterized by exceptional flexibility, good temperature resistance of up to 150°C, and excellent chemical oil and fuel resistance. Thus, these tubes are suitable for applications with extreme chemical or thermal influences, such as aviation and automotive engineering. Furthermore, they are used to protect measuring probes exposed to extreme conditions. However, defense technology is the primary field of application for elastomer tubing, as it is used for bundling and insulating cable harnesses. Offering a shrinkage ratio of 2:1 and a temperature resistance between -74°C and 150°C, our standard product of this type of material is the FITCOTUBE® FT200. A product line of elastomer shrink tubing optimized for extreme temperatures comprises our tubing made of the fluoroelastomer VitronR+. These feature an increased shrink temperature and improved temperature tolerances. For example, the temperature resistance of the FITCOTUBE® FT-VD covers an amplitude of -55°C to 220°C.

Fluoroplastics heat shrinkable tubing

The group of fluoroplastics primarily includes PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride), PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) and FEP (fluoroethylene propylene). Heat shrink tubing made from these plastics occupies a prominent place in GREMCO’s extensive product range. Although our heat shrinkable tubing made of fluoroplastics sometimes varies in its properties depending on the type of material used, all such products are characterized by dimensional stability, excellent sliding properties, very good chemical resistance, high-temperature resistance and outstanding electrical insulation properties. As a result, they can be used in a wide range of activities such as the automotive sector, as well as in aeronautical, medical and environmental engineering. For example, our FITCOTUBE® FT175 heat shrinkable tubing with a shrink ratio of 2:1 and a temperature range of -55°C to 175°C is primarily used on temperature sensors.

Silicone

Our silicone heat shrinkable tubing is extremely flexible, chemically resistant, exceptionally temperature resistant and very pure. Therefore, this material is excellently suited for sterile applications, for example in medical technology on medical equipment. Moreover, silicone tubing is used in the electrical industry if the relevant requirements are met. Our FITCOTUBE® FT250 heat shrinkable tubing has a shrink ratio of 2:1 and temperature compatibility between -60°C and 200°C.