Issue link: https://te.mouser.com/i/1524898
PERFORMANCE MATERIALS / SEALED & PROTECTED WITH HEAT SHRINK TUBING SEALED & PROTECTED WITH HEAT SHRINK TUBING TE Connectivity's Heat Shrink Tubing Offers a Superior Alternative to Tape, Glues and Glass 2 TE CONNECTIVITY'S HEAT SHRINK TUBING PROVES TO BE A SUPERIOR ALTERNATIVE TO TAPE, GLUES AND GLASS Whether designing for harsh outdoor environments or the home, design engineers across industries need ways to insulate components against heat and electric current, provide strain relief for connectors and splices, and protect and seal against water ingress, chemicals and abrasions. Heat shrink tubing can be the versatile choice to solve all these design challenges efficiently. It can also provide cosmetic improvement and organize and identify different wires and components quickly. Many design engineers and manufacturers may not realize that tubing can be used just as effectively—and often more effectively—as a protective cover, insulator, noise reducer and more in many applications and industries. Cross-Linking Technology Enables Use within Harsh Environments TE's heat shrink tubing can be used for a wide range of applications across many industries and environments because it is reliable, robust and easy to use. One of the reasons for this is cross-linking technology. Cross-linking technology modifies the molecular structure of a polymer, allowing the tubing to withstand high temperatures without adding bulk. Heat shrink tubing can provide a complete seal. It can be used for repairs and for: TE's heat shrink tubing is a high-tech, low-cost solution that can be used in place of taping, molding, potting, gluing and glass. Tubing has a quicker application time and can help improve performance. Potting, for example, because it involves liquid resin, can be tougher to keep consistent and repeatable throughout manufacturing. Gluing can present the same challenges and taping also has its shortcomings. TE Connectivity (TE) showed a customer who was using mastic tape around terminals how using tubing shortened application time (from 180 seconds to 45 seconds), improved yield (from less than 90% to over 98%) and provided a higher temperature rating—125 degrees Celsius (C) compared to 105 C with the tape. Versatility and durability are key traits of heat shrink tubing. TE's tubing portfolio provides benefits for strain relief, electrical insulation, mechanical protection and environmental sealing for applications such as back-end connector sealing, breakouts and connector-to-cable transitions, and is especially useful in cable harnesses. When heated, the tubing conforms to the size and shape of the substrate beneath, enabling quick and easy installation. Its high expansion ratio of up to 8:1 can enable users and technicians to repair most damaged cable jackets without removing connectors. By keeping out moisture, harsh chemicals and mechanical interference, heat shrink tubing can improve the performance of equipment. It can even be used to organize wires and small pipes, as it's available in a wide range of sizes, materials and colors including clear, which enables inspection of covered components and excellent light transmittal. • Insulating and protecting components and wiring • Sealing and protecting splices • Corrosion protection for wire-ends • Identifying and sealing battery terminals • Mechanical protection for hoses, lighting components, etc. • Strain relief for fine gauge wires, fiber-optic cables and electric hand tools • Noise reduction, due to vibration or moving assemblies • Moisture, fungus, weather and ultraviolet light resistance for outdoor applications • Thermal insulation of substrates, pipes, hoses and cables • Electrical insulation of electrosurgical instruments • Fluorescent & LED light covers • Color-coding of wiring and circuits • Bundling wires together for organization, protection and easier assembly